Russian skiers are disputing their ongoing exclusion from competitions as they seek to meet the requirements for the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday. A group comprising six skiers, six Para athletes, and the Russian ski federation has lodged an appeal against the recent decision by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to prolong their complete prohibition amid the nation’s conflict with Ukraine. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has not provided a specific timeline for a hearing in this expedited case, just three months before the commencement of the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. The likelihood of a positive legal outcome for Russia appeared to rise last week when a distinct panel of judges from the Court of Arbitration for Sport supported a petition by Russian lugers, compelling the International Luge Federation to initiate an evaluation process for granting athletes neutral status approval. In accordance with guidance from the International Olympic Committee, neutral status can be granted in most Olympic sports to athletes who have not endorsed the military actions in Ukraine publicly and have no affiliations with military or state security entities. Some Russian and Belarusian athletes participated in the Paris Summer Games last year without their national symbols, anthem, or team uniforms.