CAS overturns Russian ice hockey exclusion for 2026-27

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation’s exclusion of Russian teams from its events in the 2026-27 season, ordering that they be allowed to return to competition. The ruling covers the men’s and women’s world championships and other IIHF events, but leaves practical arrangements for Russia’s participation unsettled. CAS said the IIHF had not provided sufficient evidence to support its security concerns. The ruling does not determine whether Russian teams may use national symbols, play anthems or face other conditions, leaving those questions to be addressed separately. The IIHF said it was disappointed and would comply with the ruling. It maintained that its exclusion decisions were necessary to protect participants’ safety and security and preserve the integrity of its competitions. The federation also said the outcome did not remove the concerns behind its assessments. The ruling follows an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation after the IIHF continued its exclusion of Russian teams. The ban had been in place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian teams also missed the Olympic hockey tournaments in 2026....