Home / Sports / Court Denies Bolshunov Olympic Dream Over War Links
Court Denies Bolshunov Olympic Dream Over War Links
30 Jan
Summary
- Alexander Bolshunov's Olympic bid for 2026 was rejected.
- His ties to the Russian army and a pro-war rally were cited.
- CAS ad hoc division lacked jurisdiction for his appeal.
Alexander Bolshunov, a three-time Olympic champion, will not compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. His attempt to participate as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) was rejected by the International Ski Federation's eligibility panel. This decision stems from his affiliations with the Russian army and his presence at a 2022 pro-war rally.
Bolshunov appealed this rejection to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ad hoc division. However, the panel dismissed his case, stating it only handles disputes within ten days of the Games' start. His appeal was deemed too late, as the dispute originated weeks prior.
This ruling concludes a four-year eligibility saga for Bolshunov, who won five medals in Beijing in 2022 and four in 2018. The AIN team for Milan Cortina will be significantly smaller, with only 20 athletes expected, a fraction of usual Russian and Belarusian contingents.
