Russia’s national ice hockey teams have been cleared to compete in International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) events after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the governing body’s decision to exclude them.

The ruling, issued on Friday, means Russia can take part in competitions during the 2026-27 season, including the men’s and women’s World Championships.

CAS said there was insufficient evidence to justify the IIHF’s security concerns, which had been used as the basis for keeping Russian teams out of international competitions.

However, the court clarified that its decision did not cover questions surrounding the use of national symbols or whether Russian athletes should compete as neutral participants, as has happened in certain other Olympic sports. It also left other potential organisational arrangements unresolved.

The IIHF expressed disappointment with the decision, maintaining that its previous measures were necessary to protect participants and preserve the integrity of its competitions.

“While the IIHF respects the authority of CAS and will act in accordance with its ruling, the outcome does not remove the concerns that informed its assessments,” the governing body said.

Meanwhile, Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov welcomed the outcome, writing on Telegram that CAS had recognised the Russian Hockey Federation’s demands as justified on key issues.

Russian teams have been excluded from IIHF competitions since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ban also prevented them from participating in this year’s Olympic ice hockey tournaments.

The decision presents an immediate challenge for newly appointed IIHF President Franz Reindl, particularly with Germany, his home country, set to host next year’s men’s World Championship.