More than 50 Russian figure skaters, including Kamila Valieva and…
More than 50 Russian figure skaters, including Kamila Valieva and Alexandra Trusova, have been granted neutral status by the International Skating Union (ISU) to compete in international events during the 2026/2027 season. The decision allows them to participate without national symbols, following a partial lifting of previous bans on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Consensus
- The International Skating Union (ISU) granted neutral status to Russian figure skaters for participation in international competitions.
- The neutral status allows athletes to compete without national flags or anthems.
- The decision applies to the 2026/2026 season and follows a prior ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
- Kamila Valieva, Alexandra Trusova, and Petr Gumenik are among those granted neutral status.
- More than 50 Russian figure skaters have received neutral status from the ISU.
- The ISU's decision was announced in late August 2026.
- The neutral status was granted after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) temporarily lifted restrictions on the Russian Olympic Committee on July 7, 2026.
Points of divergence
- The ISU website does not contain a press release confirming the neutral status for Russian figure skaters. — meduza
- Valieva has participated in several pro-government events since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, including attending Putin's inauguration. — meduza
- The ISU stated that participation is allowed only if there are no 'proofs of violating neutral status,' likely referring to public support for the war in Ukraine. — meduza
- More than 50 Russian figure skaters received neutral status after the ISU's decision. — meduza
- Valieva returned to competition in January 2026 after completing a four-year ban for doping violations. — tg_theinsider
- Trusova missed competitions from the 2022/23 season and returned after giving birth to a son in August of the previous year. — tg_theinsider
- The ISU approved neutral status for 67 Russian figure skaters. — kommerant
- Trusova resumed her career in the training group of Eteri Tutberidze after childbirth. — kommerant
- Gumenik placed sixth at the 2026 Winter Olympics. — kommerant
- The ISU allowed Russian athletes to compete in both individual and team events under the neutral team AIN. — vedomosti
- The ISU approved special turquoise-colored uniforms for Russian athletes to wear during competitions. — vm
- The first international event for Russian athletes in the new season will be the junior Grand Prix in Xi'an, China, from August 20–22. — vm
Coverage (8 sources)
- More than 20 Russian figure skaters received neutral status to participate in international competitions. Among them are Kamila Valieva and Alexandra Trusova — Meduza
- Skaters Kamila Valieva and Alexandra Trusova, as well as skater Petr Gumenyuk received neutral status — The Insider
- ISU assigned neutral status to Russian figure skaters Valieva and Ignatova — Вести
- ISU approved neutral status for skaters Valeyeva, Trusova and Gumenny — Коммерсантъ
- ISU allowed Valieva and Trusova to participate in tournaments under neutral status — Ведомости
- Russian figure skaters Kamila Valieva and Alexandra Ignatova (Trusova) will be able to compete in neutral status at tournaments... — Varlamov News
- Valeeva and Trusova received neutral status for competitions from ISU — Вечерняя Москва
- ISU granted neutral status to figure skater Vasilyeva — Москва 24
Key entities
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