MOSCOW, 6 Apr Former head coach of the Finnish cross-country skiing team Reijo Yylhä called the absence of Russian skiers at international competitions a disaster. Against the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine, the International Ski Federation (FIS) first deprived Russia of the right to host the World Cup Final in Tyumen, and then decided not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions under the auspices of the organization until the end of the 2021/22 season. «If the Russians don't participate, it's a disaster. One major competitor is out of the game. International skiing will not last long. And, as Elena Vyalbe said, Russian skiing, perhaps, too,» said Yylha, quoted by iltalehti.fi.
