The International Ski and Snowboard Federation cleared Russian ski jumper Evgenii Klimov to return to international competition as a neutral athlete, sparking sharp criticism from Polish sports officials over his past public support for the invasion of Ukraine.
The Decision by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
Evgenii Klimov received clearance from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to compete on the international circuit under neutral status. Klimov holds the distinction of being the first Russian ski jumper to win an individual World Cup event and earned a silver medal in the mixed team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The governing body’s qualification framework was ostensibly designed to admit only neutral athletes who have avoided participating in pro-war propaganda campaigns.
Public Demonstrations and Political Backing in Moscow
Following the onset of the military conflict in Ukraine, Klimov attended a public rally in Moscow wearing outerwear marked with the letter “Z,” a prominent symbol used to endorse Russian military operations. His presence at the gathering documented his public alignment with the war effort, contrasting with the eligibility requirements established for neutral status.
Reactions from Polish Ski Jumping Officials
Jakub Kot, a former Polish ski jumper and federation official, condemned the governing body’s clearance in an interview with Sportowefakty, characterizing the decision as divorced from reality. Kot suggested the federation either lacked awareness of the athlete’s background or chose to overlook it in an effort to restore pre-war competition norms. Andrzej Wąsowicz, a member of the organizing committee in Wisła, echoed those sentiments in a separate interview with Eurosport, stating that an athlete who publicly endorsed political leadership was unfit to compete on local ski jumps. Klimov secured his lone career World Cup victory at the Wisła venue in 2018.
National Entry Requirements May Block Returning Athletes
Beyond regulatory clearance from the international sports federation, national entry requirements remain a significant hurdle for returning athletes. Kot noted that possessing a competitor license does not guarantee entry into host countries, asserting that Klimov and similarly positioned athletes should be denied visas to enter Poland.
Contrasting Omissions in Cross-Country Skiing
While the federation permitted several athletes to return, the inclusion lists created notable anomalies across winter disciplines. Saveliy Korosteylev, a Russian cross-country skier who competed during the previous season and contended for medals at the Cortina and Milan Olympics, was omitted from the approved clearance roster despite having no recorded history of public political demonstrations. Korosteylev expressed public surprise regarding his absence from the finalized federation document.
