CAS clears way for Russia to compete at ice hockey world championships

The logo of the Court of Arbitration for Sport is seen on the front door in Lausanne, Switzerland, in February 2024. | REUTERS

Reuters

Nov 1, 2026

FRANKFURT – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Friday that Russian teams can compete in next year’s men’s and women’s world championships, overturning International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) decisions to exclude them from its competitions.

CAS upheld appeals lodged by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation against the IIHF barring its teams from participating in events during the 2026-27 season.

The Lausanne-based court said the IIHF had not presented sufficient evidence to justify its assessment that security concerns required Russia’s continued exclusion from its competitions.

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