Court clears Russia's return to international ice hockey tournaments

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian teams to participate in international tournaments under its auspices. CAS annulled five resolutions of the IIHF council and recognized the Russian Hockey Federation's demands as justified.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev described the ruling as a major victory for Russian sports officials and lawyers. He stated that the CAS decision is final and cannot be appealed.

“Make no mistake, this is a very unwelcome decision given the geopolitical situation, given the actions of Russia.”

The ruling requires the IIHF to ensure Russian teams take part in the 2026/2027 season. Russian female players will not reach the women's world championship in Denmark, which starts on November 6.

The first possible tournament for Russian players may be the junior world championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, running from December 26 to January 5. These events have suffered from the absence of Russian teams since 2022.

The IIHF expressed disappointment with the CAS verdict, noting that factors behind the suspension of Russian and Belarusian players since 2022 remain. The federation said possible changes require extensive coordination with national associations and organizers.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand called the decision a great disappointment amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year. She said she is not comfortable with a Russian team attending the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Alberta and that all options remain on the table.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at the Canada-EU summit, said Canada wants to be the bloc's first associate member.