FIS has admitted Klimov to the competition under neutral status
Russian ski jumper Yevgeny Klimov has been granted permission to compete in international events during the 2026–27 season. The FIS has added him to the list of individual neutral athletes, even though Klimov attended a pro-war rally in Moscow and appeared in public wearing the “Z” symbol after the start of the full-scale war.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has released a list of Russian and Belarusian athletes who have been granted the status of individual neutral athletes (AIN) for the 2026/27 season. Among them is Russian ski jumper Evgeny Klimov. This means that Klimov will be able to compete in international events, but not under the Russian flag. He will also be barred from participating in competitions where the result is determined by team standings. There must be no Russian symbols, national anthem, or national team uniforms in the arenas.
In total, the FIS has granted neutral status to 19 athletes this time. Among them are five Russian ski jumpers: Danil Sadryev, Evgeny Klimov, Ilya Mankov, Mikhail Nazarov, and Konstantin Nikolaev. Several other athletes were cleared to compete in cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and freestyle skiing. The decision regarding Klimov drew particular attention due to his behavior following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In March 2022, Klimov was among the Russian athletes who attended a pro-war rally at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The letter “Z” was visible on his jacket—a symbol used by the Russian military and propaganda apparatus after the invasion of Ukraine began. Photos from this event were published by sports media outlets. Klimov had also come to the attention of the sports media at the very start of the full-scale war. During the World Cup team competition in Lahti in February 2022, he flashed a glove bearing the Russian flag at the camera. The FIS investigated the incident at the time, but the athlete faced no penalties.
At the rally in Luzhniki, Klimov was present alongside other well-known Russian athletes. Among them was ski jumper Irina Avvakumova. Both were wearing jackets bearing the letter “Z.”
Due to the athlete’s stance, his potential appearances in Poland have already sparked a negative reaction. In particular, Andrzej Wonsowicz, a representative of the organizing committee for the competition in Wisła, previously spoke about Klimov in an interview with Eurosport. He noted: “I saw how he supported Putin.”
What rules has the FIS established?
The FIS has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to apply for neutral status following a rule change for the 2026–27 season. To do so, they must undergo an individual review and sign a declaration of neutrality.
The federation states that during the vetting process, it considers compliance with established criteria. Specifically, athletes must not have voluntary ties to the Russian or Belarusian military or other security forces and may not publicly support the war against Ukraine. They must also comply with anti-doping requirements. However, the FIS has not reinstated the Russian and Belarusian national teams to international competition. Eligible athletes may compete only as individuals and under a neutral status.
According to the FIS, each application is reviewed by a special commission. The process also involves an independent external review, following which a decision is made regarding the athlete’s compliance with the AIN criteria.
At the same time, the FIS has not released a separate detailed explanation as to why Klimov, despite his public actions in 2022, was granted neutral status. In the federation’s public list, his eligibility is simply listed among the approved applications.
What Is Known About Klimov
Evgeny Klimov is a 32-year-old Russian ski jumper. He is the silver medalist from the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the mixed team event. In individual World Cup events, the Russian has stood on the podium three times, with his only victory coming in Wisła, Poland, at the start of the 2018–19 season. After the outbreak of full-scale war, Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from international competitions in ski disciplines. Now, some athletes are being given the opportunity to return, but only after individual vetting and on the condition that they compete under neutral status.
Klimov became one of the first Russian ski jumpers to be cleared by the FIS for the new season. His participation in international competitions will now depend on the race schedule and his compliance with the conditions of neutral status.
The Council of the International Ski Federation (FIS) has allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions. At the same time, a number of conditions and restrictions have been imposed on them.
