SAMARA, November 6. /TASS/. Russia has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to throw out the decision made by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to bar its national athletes from federation-sponsored international tournaments, Russian Sports Minister and President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Mikhail Degtyarev told TASS on Thursday.

The FIS Council ruled on October 21 to bar athletes representing Russia and Belarus from international tournaments, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Late last week, the Swiss-based CAS upheld Russia’s appeal against the previously imposed ban by the International Luge Federation (FIL) and ruled to clear Russian lugers and bobsledders for participation in international tournaments.

"A court appeal regarding the FIS decision has already been submitted with the Court of Arbitration for Sport," Degtyarev said speaking on the sidelines of the ‘Russia: Country of Sports’ international sports forum.

"The Ministry of Sports, the Russian Olympic Committee and corresponding Russian sports federations act in coordination to protect the rights of our athletes," Degtyarev continued. "Russia's stance rests on the recent judicial precedent regarding luge and bobsleigh sports that proved the discriminatory nature of suspensions."

"We view the suspension of Russian athletes from international competitions as absolutely unacceptable and contrary to the spirit and principles of the Olympic Charter," he continued. "We will carry on consistently seeking the restoration of justice and equal conditions for Russian athletes’ participation in international tournaments via courts."

The 13th Russia: Country of Sports annual international sports forum is taking place in Russia’s Volga River city of Samara on November 5-7. The annual forum was established in 2009 in accordance with a decree from the Russian president in order to develop physical culture and sport, international sports cooperation and promote a healthy lifestyle. TASS is the official information partner of the forum.

IOC sanctions against Russia, Belarus

On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to prohibit athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in international tournaments, citing Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

Following the IOC’s recommendations in late February 2022, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

In late March, 2023, the IOC recommended allowing individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international sports tournaments, but only under specific conditions. Specifically, athletes from the two countries should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status. Russia and Belarus were also banned from participating in international team events.

On October 12, 2023, the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) until further notice after the Russian organization included the Olympic councils of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions as its members.