Russia banned from World Cup bobsled

Russian teams will not compete in World Cup bobsled races this season. The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation voted on Tuesday to extend sanctions stemming from the war in Ukraine. The ban applies to the current World Cup circuit and is expected to remain in place for the sport's world championships.

Individual Russian sliders may still enter skeleton and monobob events. The federation specified that these athletes must compete as neutral individuals. They must also satisfy strict eligibility and vetting conditions before they can start.

The distinction between disciplines drives the ruling. Skeleton and monobob are solo events. A skeleton sled carries only one athlete who travels headfirst down the track. A monobob sled carries one woman. Two-man and four-man bobsled events require crews, which creates a team dynamic that the governing body views differently.

Vetting focuses on neutrality. This mirrors the process used to set fields for the Milan-Cortina Olympics last winter. Independent reviewers ensure athletes have not publicly supported the war. They also verify that competitors are not affiliated with the Russian military or other state forces.

Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Ukrainian skeleton athlete, supported the decision. He wrote on social media that a convincing majority of votes adopted the measure. He cited facts regarding the Russian Bobsleigh Federation's involvement in supporting their government's actions. Heraskevych noted that some athletes have ties to the Russian army.

Heraskevych is a likely medal contender at the Milan-Cortina Games. He was barred from racing in his event last February. He refused a last-minute request by the International Olympic Committee. The committee asked him not to wear a helmet honoring more than 20 athletes and coaches killed since Russia invaded Ukraine more than four years ago.

The first World Cup bobsled and skeleton races of the season are scheduled for Nov. 27 at Altenberg, Germany.