Winter Olympics 2026: Russia's Ban and the AIN Athletes Competing in Milano Cortina
As the Winter Olympics officially commence on 6 February in Milan, athletes from 92 nations are set to compete in Milano Cortina. However, two countries will be notably absent from the roster: Russia and Belarus. Both nations remain suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a ban that has been in place since 2023 due to violations of the Olympic Charter. This suspension means that neither country can participate as official national teams in the Games.
Why Are Russia and Belarus Banned from the Winter Olympics?
The roots of this ban trace back to March 2022, when the IOC recommended that international sports federations exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from their events. This recommendation was a direct consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Belarus supporting the invasion as an ally. The invasion occurred after the Beijing Winter Olympics but before the Paralympics, leading to swift action from sporting bodies.
In October 2023, the IOC formally suspended both countries after the Russian Olympic Committee took over sporting organisations in Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia, including Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. The IOC stated that this takeover breached the Olympic Charter by violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee. This suspension cut off Olympic funding and barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from representing their nations at subsequent Games, such as the Paris 2024 Olympics.
What Are AIN Athletes?
Despite the ban, a select group of athletes from Russia and Belarus are permitted to compete under a neutral banner as 'Individual Neutral Athletes', abbreviated as AIN from the French "athlètes individuels neutres". This system, which debuted at the Paris 2024 Olympics, continues for Milano Cortina 2026. AIN athletes do not represent their home countries; instead, they compete under a teal flag featuring an 'AIN' emblem. They are also barred from using their national anthems, with the IOC providing an instrumental anthem for any medal ceremonies.
At the Paris Olympics, these athletes were excluded from the Opening Ceremony, and their medals did not contribute to the overall medal table. Similar restrictions apply in Milano Cortina, reinforcing their neutral status.
Which AIN Athletes Are Allowed to Compete?
AIN athletes face strict eligibility criteria. They are not allowed to participate in team events like ice hockey or curling, as the IOC rules that a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot constitute a team. For individual sports, athletes must first gain approval from their sport's governing body before undergoing vetting by an IOC-appointed panel. This process ensures that athletes have no ties to the Russian military and have not expressed support for the war in Ukraine.
Notably, high-profile Russian skater Kamila Valieva, who was at the centre of a doping scandal at the Beijing Games, returned from a four-year ban in late 2025. However, her comeback was too late to qualify for Milano Cortina, meaning she will not be among the AIN participants.
Which AIN Athletes Have Qualified for the Winter Olympics?
A total of 20 athletes have accepted IOC invitations to compete as AIN participants in Milano Cortina 2026. This includes 13 from Russia and 7 from Belarus, spanning various winter sports disciplines.
From Russia:
- Yulia Pleshkova - Alpine skiing
- Simon Efimov - Alpine skiing
- Savelii Korostelev - cross-country skiing
- Daria Nepriaeva - cross-country skiing
- Petr Gumennik - figure skating
- Adeliia Petrosian - figure skating
- Daria Olesik - luge
- Pavel Repilov - luge
- Ivan Posashkov - short-track
- Alena Krylova - short-track
- Nikita Filippov - ski mountaineering
- Kseniia Korzhova - speed skating
- Anastasiia Semenova - speed skating
From Belarus:
- Marina Zueva - speed skating
- Hanna Karaliova - cross-country skiing
- Viktoriya Safonova - figure skating
- Maria Shkanova - Alpine skiing
- Anastasiya Andryianava - freestyle skiing
- Anna Derugo - freestyle skiing
- Hanna Huskova - freestyle skiing
These athletes will compete without national symbols, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical tensions that have reshaped the landscape of international sports. The AIN system allows for their participation while maintaining the sanctions against their home countries, ensuring the Games proceed with a focus on athletic excellence amid complex political realities.
