Four years ago, Bolshunov won Olympic gold. Now he's not allowed to participate. © APA/afp / ODD ANDERSEN

Appeal rejected: Bolshunov wanted to go to the Olympics

The appeal by Russian cross-country skier and three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov against his exclusion from the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on formal grounds.

29 January 2026

From: dpa/sn

The ad hoc chamber declared that it lacked jurisdiction, stating that Bolshunov had not submitted his application in a timely manner.

The 29-year-old filed a lawsuit on January 28 against a decision by the International Ski Federation (FIS) after he was barred from competing as an athlete under a neutral flag. Bolshunov is not allowed to compete for his home country because of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. A FIS commission had already rejected his application on December 24.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has now stated that the ad hoc chamber is only responsible for disputes arising during the Games or at the latest ten days before the opening ceremony. Bolshunov thus missed the deadline by one day.