The Court of Arbitration for Sport has reversed a ban on Russian ice hockey participation in international competitions, a decision that has drawn criticism from multiple nations and governing bodies.
Russia had been suspended from International Ice Hockey Federation events following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The IIHF maintained the suspension earlier this year, but the Russian Ice Hockey Federation appealed to Cas, which upheld the appeal following an in-person hearing at its Lausanne headquarters. According to Cas, arguments presented by the IIHF regarding safety, security, and related concerns lacked sufficient supporting evidence.
Ukraine’s ice hockey federation stated it respected Cas’s authority while expressing “deep outrage” at the outcome. Officials noted that the underlying threats that had prompted the original ban remain unresolved, making the decision to permit Russian participation particularly troubling. Ukrainian officials also highlighted that their men’s team has qualified for the top flight world championships for the first time in 20 years after securing promotion at this year’s Division 1 tournament.
Multiple other nations have similarly opposed the ruling. Germany’s ice hockey federation chairman noted that hosting the men’s world championships in May would present significant security, political, and economic challenges. Federations from the Czech Republic, Finland, and the United Kingdom also condemned the decision, with Czech ice hockey officials stating their opposition to Russian participation during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Russia is now set to participate in IIHF events beginning in the 2026-27 season, which will include men’s and women’s world championships. The IIHF expressed disappointment with the ruling while indicating it will comply with Cas’s decision. Russian officials welcomed the reversal and indicated their intent to work toward the return of their teams to international competition.
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