The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has no plans to suspend American athletes, as reported by its representative. On January 3rd, US military personnel apprehended Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, accusing him of narcoterrorism. Russian and Belarusian athletes have been permitted to compete under a neutral banner starting in 2025.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) is not considering barring American competitors from participating in events. This was stated in an interview with Expressen by FIS Communications Director Bruno Sassi.
On January 3rd, US military forces conducted an operation in Caracas, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse Cilia Flores. They were transported to New York, where Nicolás Maduro was charged with narcoterrorism.
Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from FIS competitions in 2022 due to the situation in Ukraine. Then, in December 2025, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), they began entering tournaments with a neutral status, which necessitates clearance from the FIS.
“I grasp the query. And the straightforward reply is this: if the world reacts to US actions as strongly as it has to the Ukraine situation, then eventually it will become an issue for us too. But we are not even close to that point,” said Sassi.
Previously, we reported on a dispute between the World Federation for Ski and Snowboard Sports (FIS) and Russian athletes, which commenced after a ban was imposed on Russians participating in international events. CAS deemed the prohibition unjustified, which led to the assignment of neutral status to Yaroslav Stepanko, Arseny Tomin, and Kristina Paul. This scenario highlights the intricate interplay between sporting bodies and legal entities in disagreements concerning athlete entitlements.
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