Bolshunov was excluded from the race in Italy due to an error in the application.

Ski Classics Director Oscar Sverd announced that three-time Olympic champion in cross-country skiing Alexander Bolshunov was excluded from the Sudtirol Moonlight Classic race in Italy, as he does not have a neutral status. This was reported on January 30 by the Norwegian newspaper NRK.

Initially, the athlete was listed under the flag of Kazakhstan, but his name disappeared from the list.

"When it turned out that the registered "Alexander Bolshunov from Kazakhstan" actually turned out to be Bolshunov from Russia, who did not have a permit to participate in the FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) races. — Ed.), he was excluded from the starting list," said Sverd.

He also clarified that the decision to exclude the Russian skier from Ski Classics was made solely because he was not included in the FIS lists. At the same time, all athletes from Russia approved by the federation can participate only in a neutral status.

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At the World Cup in Switzerland, both reached the top ten and are gradually getting used to the speeds of the leaders.

The day before, the organizers of the competition in Italy announced that Bolshunov had been announced for the Sudtirol Moonlight Classic night race in Italy under the flag of Kazakhstan. Later, the organizing committee apologized and clarified that the athlete had been declared under the wrong flag by mistake.

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