Russian Lugers Eye Olympic Qualification Amid Political Tensions

Six Russian lugers registered to compete as individuals in a World Cup event in New York. This comes after a CAS ruling allowed them to participate as neutrals, despite a ban by the International Luge Federation. The competition forms part of the qualification for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

Six Russian lugers are set to compete individually in this week's World Cup event at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, New York. They aim to secure qualification for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

The athletes participate under a neutral status following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in October. The ruling permitted Russian lugers to participate in Olympic qualifiers, reversing previous International Luge Federation sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict.

Despite the FIL's 2022 exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, a similar CAS ruling now allows their participation in ski and snowboard events. Russian lugers arrived for official training on Tuesday, looking forward to the competition on Friday and Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies.)