The International Olympic Committee, IOC, announced on Wednesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes can participate under a neutral flag already in the Olympics in Paris next summer.

The IOC's announcement may cause the International Skiing and Snowboarding Federation (FIS) to follow the same path.

In an email to Expressen, the international federation wrote the following: "Fis has noted the message and recommendations from the IOC and will take it into account the next time the subject is discussed by the Fis Council".

Fis decided in October that the sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes remain in place for the rest of the season.

General secretary Michel Vion believes that it was "a good sign" to receive a message from the IOC, but says that Fi's position will not change before the Skiing WC in Planica, which begins on February 22.

- It is very clear from Fis.

We made a decision at a meeting in October that no Russians or Belarusians would be allowed to compete during the season, so that decision was made three months ago, he tells SVT Sport.

The Fis council's next meeting is in April, and the issue will then be taken up.

- We have said that we normally follow the IOC's recommendation.

But we have to wait until April for a decision on next season.

"Madness"

The Norwegian Fis top Erik Røste, who sits on the board, wrote a post on Facebook after the IOC's announcement that he does not want to see Russian and Belarusian athletes in the tracks.

"What is happening (in Ukraine) is a serious violation of human rights.

In the midst of this madness, a discussion is started that athletes from Russia and Belarus should be welcomed back into the heat.

It is completely incomprehensible to me," he writes according to NTB.

- I cannot comment on the IOC's decision.

Röste is a member of the board and he can say what he wants, says Vion.

Could there be Russian and Belarusian skaters in the World Cup next season?

- I cannot say anything about whether we will see Russians or Belarusians next season.

We have to wait until the meeting in April.

Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes have been internationally banned from most sports since Russia invaded Ukraine last February.