The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to readmit Russian teams to five international competitions in 2027, ruling that the governing body failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify their continued exclusion on security grounds.
The decision overturns the IIHF Council’s ban on Russian teams for the 2026-2027 season, clearing the way for their return to the World Junior Championship, two Under-18 tournaments, and the senior men’s and women’s World Championships.
CAS upheld an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF), finding that the IIHF had not established sufficient grounds to keep Russian athletes and teams out of the competitions.
The affected tournaments are the World Junior Championship in Canada from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2027; the U18 Women’s World Championship in the Czech Republic from January 8 to 16; and the U18 Men’s World Championship in the United States from April 22 to May 2.
The ruling also covers the Men’s World Championship in Germany from May 14 to 30, and the Women’s World Championship in Canada in November 2027.
The IIHF initially decided in January 2026 against reinstating Russian teams, citing safety and security concerns. The RIHF challenged the decision before the IIHF Disciplinary Board, which overturned it in May and directed the Council to reconsider the matter based on safety, security, operational and sporting factors.
However, the Council maintained its position in June, prompting both parties to refer the dispute to CAS for a final ruling.
Following hearings in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 23 and 26, the CAS Panel unanimously ruled that the IIHF had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the exclusion.
The Panel noted that, under IIHF regulations, only substantiated security concerns could override the right of athletes of a particular nationality to compete. It consequently annulled the Council’s decision with immediate effect.
CAS, however, clarified that the ruling does not require Russian teams to compete under a neutral status or address the organisational arrangements for their return, as these issues were not part of the appeal.
The case is one of three separate appeals filed by the RIHF against the IIHF in 2026, with the other two proceedings concerning different matters.
CAS also reiterated that disputes involving Russian sports bodies and athletes are assessed individually, based on the applicable regulations and circumstances of each case.
