Thirteen skaters added to neutral roster
The International Skating Union has approved another 13 Russian figure skaters to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes during the 2026-27 season.
According to TASS, the newly approved athletes are Sofia Dzepka, Arseny Fedotov, Maria Fefelova, Egor Karnauhov, Elena Kostyleva, Lev Lazarev, Polina Sazhina, Polina Shesheleva, Ivan Telnov, Artyom Valov, Darya Drozhzhina, Alexey Belkin and Victoria Streltsova.
Their approval brings the number of Russian figure skaters holding neutral status for the coming season to 21.
The first group consisted of Adeliia Petrosian, Alisa Dvoeglazova, Anna Frolova, Alina Gorbacheva, Margarita Bazylyuk and Grigory Fedorov, together with pair skaters Viktoria Dvinina and Artyom Petrov, as previously reported by TASS.
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Neutral status does not guarantee entry
Receiving neutral status makes the athletes eligible for international selection, but it does not guarantee them a place at every competition.
Entries must still be submitted through the relevant ISU member federation, while the skaters must satisfy the normal age, qualification and sporting requirements for each event.
Russian and Belarusian athletes will also receive restricted quotas. Because their federations were absent from ISU competitions for more than three years and could not collect ranking points during that period, their allocations will be calculated as if they were returning for their first season.
National symbols remain prohibited
The ISU confirmed in its official readmission announcement that eligible Russian and Belarusian skaters may participate in ISU events and international competitions during the 2026-27 season.
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They must compete “without items of state recognition, namely national flags, national kit and national anthems.”
The approved Russian skaters are listed under the AIN2 designation, which identifies neutral athletes affiliated with Russia. They may not display national colours or symbols, and the Russian anthem cannot be played in connection with their performances.
The ISU has also retained the power to withdraw or tighten the arrangements if athletes breach the conditions attached to their neutral status.
Return remains limited to athletes
The decision represents a broader return than the restricted pathway used during qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics, when only a limited number of Russian and Belarusian skaters could seek approval.
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However, it does not amount to the full reinstatement of the Russian national team. Russian and Belarusian officials remain excluded under the existing rules, although the ISU has said that it is developing a possible route for their future return.
For now, the expanded list gives 21 Russian figure skaters a pathway back to international competition while keeping the restrictions on national representation firmly in place.
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