Russian skiers are contesting their ongoing exclusion from competitions in their bid to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics, as per the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s announcement on Thursday. A group comprising six skiers, six Para athletes, and the Russian ski federation has lodged an appeal against a recent ruling by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to prolong their complete ban amid the conflict involving Ukraine. The Court of Arbitration for Sport did not specify a specific schedule for a hearing, but it is expected to be expedited given the proximity to the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics set to kick off in February. Notably, there is a possibility of a favorable outcome for Russia following a recent decision by a separate panel of CAS judges in favor of Russian lugers, obliging the International Luge Federation to initiate an evaluation process for athletes seeking approved neutral status. This status is typically granted in various Olympic sports following guidelines established by the International Olympic Committee, catering to athletes who have refrained from endorsing the military intervention in Ukraine and lack affiliations with military or governmental security entities. In a similar vein, some Russian and Belarusian athletes participated in the Paris Summer Games last year sans their national symbols and team colors.