Russian teams will stay out of World Cup bobsled racing this season, and likely the sport's world championships too, after one of sliding's governing bodies voted on Tuesday to extend sanctions tied to Russia's war with Ukraine.
The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said some Russian sliders may still take part in skeleton and monobob events this season. They would compete only as individual neutral athletes and would be "subject to … eligibility and vetting conditions."
Neutrality is the central question in deciding which Russian athletes are allowed to compete. The same issue shaped the process last winter, when fields were being set for the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Some sports federations have allowed Russian athletes to compete, but only after an independent review confirms they have not publicly supported the war and have no affiliation with Russia's military or other forces.
Skeleton and monobob are treated differently from two-man and four-man bobsled because they have no team element. A skeleton sled carries a single person, who goes down the track headfirst, and a monobob carries one woman.
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych welcomed the outcome in a statement posted on social media. "After thorough discussion and our presentation of facts about the involvement of the Russian Bobsleigh Federation and Russian athletes in actively supporting the actions of their government, and in some cases even their affiliation with the Russian army, a fair decision was adopted by a convincing majority of votes," he wrote.
Heraskevych was considered a likely medal contender at the Milan-Cortina Games. Last February he was barred from racing in his event after he refused a last-minute request from the International Olympic Committee not to use a helmet honoring more than 20 athletes and coaches killed since Russia invaded his country more than four years ago.
The first World Cup bobsled and skeleton races of the season are set for Nov. 27 at Altenberg, Germany.
