On October 22, the International Ski Federation (FIS) will consider the issue of Russia and Belarus' participation in the upcoming ski season.
The Norwegian Ski Federation has already chosen to boycott upcoming Fis meetings because Russia and Belarus are invited.
Now the superpower can take it a step further, says Torbjørn Skogstad, chairman of the Norwegian cross-country committee.
- It will be a big decision for the entire association.
If I am to speak for us, I find it difficult to see how we can compete against the Russians as long as they are waging war against Ukraine, says Skogstad.
Mobilization
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week a partial mobilization in which an additional 300,000 men are called up for the war in Ukraine.
In the same week, General Secretary Michel Vion opened the redab for a possible return this winter for Russian and Belarusian cross-country skiers under neutral flags.
The statement was met with strong reactions from Sweden, among others.
However, Finn Martti Uusitalo, who sits on Fi's board, claimed for the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat that Vion had been misinterpreted.
Torbjørn Skogstad says that Vion's statement is only "unfortunate" at best.
"Responsibility to Mark"
He also expects that the sanctions will remain, but should it happen that Russians and Belarusians are allowed to compete again in the World Cup and WC in Planica, a Norwegian boycott is not impossible.
- We will make an assessment.
There are many consequences associated with that, so we have to discuss that if that situation arises.
We have a responsibility to mark in the right way, says Skogstad.
Following, for example, tennis and letting Russians and Belarusians compete under a neutral flag is also something that Skogstad rejects.