Russia welcomes it, the IIHF regrets it
Reaction is building after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered Russia back into world ice hockey. The court ruled on Friday that Russian teams must be reinstated in IIHF competitions for the 2026-27 season, rejecting the federation’s argument, made in January, that safety concerns for other athletes justified keeping them out. CAS found the evidence insufficient.
The Russian Ice Hockey Federation said it welcomes the decision. The IIHF expressed its disappointment and maintained that the suspension, in place since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, was necessary to protect the safety of all participants and the integrity of its competitions.
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Degtiarev looks ahead, Prague pushes back
Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtiarev, who also heads the Russian Olympic Committee, said there is “difficult work” ahead to implement the ruling and bring the national teams back. He said the first event Russian players will enter is the World Junior Championship in Canada, from December 26, 2026 to January 5, 2027.
The Czech Republic hosts the women’s under-18 Worlds from January 8 to 16, 2027, which are also covered by the ruling. Czech sports minister Boris Stastny wrote on X that he fundamentally disagrees with CAS, arguing that sport should bring people together and not serve as a propaganda tool for a state at war.
A scheduling headache for 2027
The IIHF points to significant practical changes for events already well advanced, including formats, scheduling and accommodation. The men’s World Championship in Germany from May 14 to 30, 2027 is the most delicate case: all 16 teams are already known and the match schedule is set. The women’s Worlds take place in Canada in November 2027.
The backdrop has been shifting. During the Milan Cortina Olympics in February, former IIHF president Luc Tardif said he wanted Russia back as soon as possible, though not as early as 2026-27. In July, the IOC lifted some restrictions on Russian athletes, who can aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, including in team sports, depending on each international federation.
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