Olympic exclusion: Olympic tobogganing competitions without Russian participation

The Rodel World Association (FIL) has again decided to exclude the Russian athletes. This was announced by the Fil after its 73rd congress in the Finnish tampere. Accordingly, the exclusion also applies to the qualification process for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

“The congress has clearly expressed its position. This result reflects our common responsibility for maintaining a fair and safe competition. We respect the diversity of opinions within our community, in particular that of our athletes,” said Fil President Einars Fogelis.

The Fil’s approach, which has been in effect since September 23, 2022, was again confirmed. The basis for the debate was whether the question of Russian athletes should be possible as so -called “neutral athletes” (AIN) under the guidelines of the International Olympic Committee.

Leon Felderer, Chairman of the Fil-Athlete Commission, presented the results of an anonymous survey in Tampere among art and natural rail athletes. These reflected a differentiated opinion, with concerns about security, antidoping, fairness and equal opportunities in the Olympic qualification process. “The athletes are very different. There are various concerns and arguments on both sides,” said Felderer.

The subsequent vote resulted in a clear majority for maintaining the previous line: 24 delegates voted for the continued existence of the exclusion, seven, on the other hand, one voice was invalid. In a second vote, the Fil Executive was expressly not authorized to develop an Ain participation program for neutral Russian athletes. Participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics is therefore impossible. 24 delegates again voted for the complete exclusion, eight spoke out for the examination of an AIN regulation.