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Russia Gets Another Green Light in International Sports as Hockey Teams Are Cleared to Return
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Alexander Ovechkin of Russia celebrates after he scores his team's opening goal during the IIHF World Championship at Ericsson Globe on May 17, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Source: Getty Images)
Russia’s national ice hockey team is set to return to international competitions in the 2026/27 season following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev announced, according to Russian outlet Vedomosti on October 30.
Degtyarev said the ruling requires the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian teams to participate in relevant international tournaments during the upcoming season.
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According to the minister, the CAS decision is final and cannot be appealed, effectively ending the legal dispute over Russia’s participation in international ice hockey competitions.
The IIHF also acknowledged the ruling, stating on its official website that it would comply with the court’s decision and urgently assess the measures necessary to facilitate the return of Russian national teams.
Russian ice hockey teams have been excluded from IIHF-sanctioned competitions since February 2022, following Russia’s launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the suspension, the federation repeatedly reviewed the possibility of reinstating Russian teams but ultimately maintained the restrictions.
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According to Vedomosti, ice hockey has now become the second major team sport after volleyball in which restrictions on Russian participation have been lifted.
The earlier decision to readmit Russian athletes to international volleyball competitions drew criticism from Polish Volleyball Federation President Sebastian Świderski, who argued that allowing them to return was premature while Russia’s war against Ukraine continued.
“I probably learned about the IOC's decision from social media. We did not receive any official information. I was convinced it was fake news. I later confirmed the information through informal sources,” Świderski said in an interview with Sport.pl on July 9.
He also questioned the justification for reinstating Russian athletes, describing the decision as “strange” and stressing that “nothing has changed on our eastern border.”
“I invite the gentlemen who made this decision to visit Ukraine so they can see what everyday life looks like there. I wonder how they would behave if Russia attacked their own country, and whether they would make such decisions so quickly under those circumstances,” he added.
Why it matters
The gradual reinstatement of Russian athletes in international sports has sparked debate since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine with Belarusian support. Although Russian and Belarusian competitors were initially barred from international tournaments, several sports federations began relaxing restrictions in early 2023 despite the ongoing war.
The controversy also reflects concerns about Russia’s use of sports as a propaganda tool to legitimize its policies, as reported by Ukraїner. Some Russian athletes have participated in state-sponsored events, publicly endorsed or defended the invasion of Ukraine, and even held military ranks, raising questions about the relationship between Russian sports and the Kremlin’s war effort.
Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion has had severe consequences for Ukraine’s sporting community. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, at least 19 Ukrainian athletes remained in Russian captivity as of June 2026, while another 13 were reported missing.
An additional 23 athletes had been released and returned to Ukraine. Ukrainian human rights organizations have urged the international community to increase pressure on Russia to secure the release of those still detained.
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