The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Russian cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov's appeal to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics as an Individual Neutral Athlete. The decision hinges on jurisdictional limits, ending his bid to defend three gold medals from Beijing. This ruling stems from ongoing sanctions against Russian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Alexander Bolshunov, a 29-year-old three-time Olympic champion, has been definitively barred from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected his appeal on January 29, 2026, citing a lack of jurisdiction. Bolshunov, who secured three gold medals and five total in Beijing 2022—where he served as the Russian Olympic Committee flag bearer—sought to compete as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) amid Russia's ban.
The saga began after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting the International Olympic Committee to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes for breaching international rules. In December 2025, CAS overturned the International Ski and Snowboard Federation's (FIS) broader competition ban, allowing potential qualification. However, the FIS Individual Neutral Eligibility Review Panel rejected Bolshunov's application on December 24, 2025, due to his role as a Russian army captain and his appearance at a pro-war rally in Moscow that year.
Bolshunov appealed to CAS's Ad Hoc Division, established for expedited disputes near the Games. He filed on January 28, 2026—the first day of the 10-day window before the February 6 opening ceremony—but the panel ruled the underlying dispute arose five weeks earlier, missing the January 27 deadline by one day. The division's scope is limited to issues emerging no earlier than 10 days before the Games or during the event, which runs until February 22.
With this rejection, hopes for late additions to the AIN roster fade. The neutral team will consist of just 20 athletes, a fraction of the typical Russian and Belarusian contingent at past Winter Olympics. Bolshunov also earned four medals at PyeongChang 2018, underscoring his prominence in cross-country skiing.
