Court rules Russia ice hockey teams must return to world championships

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 15:46 · Archive

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned Russia's exclusion from international ice hockey events including world championships.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's decision to exclude Russia from major ice hockey events, including the men's and women's world championships in the 2026-27 season. The exclusion had been in place since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. CAS found insufficient evidence to support the IIHF's security concerns in a brief statement.

The ruling does not settle whether Russia will be required to compete as neutral athletes without national symbols, as occurs in some Olympic sports, or address other organisational consequences. The IIHF expressed disappointment, stating its decisions were necessary to protect safety and security and maintain competition integrity.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov said on Telegram that CAS had recognised the Russian Hockey Federation's demands as justified. The ruling reflects a broader shift in the Olympic movement towards reintegrating Russian athletes. Russia fielded only small squads of neutral athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, though swimming and volleyball allowed Russia to compete under its national flag this year.

The decision throws into uncertainty how next year's men's world championship in Germany will proceed, with both Russia and Ukraine having qualified.

How it is being reported

• Major win for Russian sport as ice hockey teams returnThe Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that Russia teams must be allowed to play major ice hockey events like the world championshipsPerth Now · 30 Oct, 15:33
• Major win for Russian sport as ice hockey teams returnThe Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that Russia teams must be allowed to play major ice hockey events like the world championshipsThe West Australian · 30 Oct, 15:33

In this story: Russia · Court of Arbitration for Sport · International Ice Hockey Federation · Ukraine · Germany · Mikhail Degtyaryov

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