MOSCOW, Oct 20 FIS member Martti Uusitalo stated that Russian athletes would not participate in the organization's competitions next season. At the end of February, FIS suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions due to events in Ukraine. The decision was open-ended as long as it remains in effect and is due to be reviewed by the FIS Council on 22 October. Earlier, FIS Secretary General Michel Vion said that the organization is considering the possibility of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions under a neutral flag. Uusitalo later said that Vion's words were misinterpreted. «Nothing has changed. I have not received any indication that this will happen. Russian athletes will not participate in FIS competitions next season,» Uusitalo was quoted as saying by svenska.yle.fi. According to the functionary, the issue of allowing Russians was discussed at the board of directors. The final decision will be made at a meeting of the FIS Council on Saturday. «We note at the council that the decision will be valid in the upcoming season,» Uusitalo said. FIS made it clear to her that after the announcement of partial mobilization in Russia and referendums in the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the issue of granting neutral status to Russian athletes was actually removed from the FIS agenda.
