CAS confirmed the decision to give the Russian the place of the Irish luge athlete at the Olympic Games

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ad hoc) has upheld the decision of the International Luge Federation (FIL) to grant a qualifying place in the Olympic Games (OI) 2026 to Russian Daria Olesik. She will compete as an individual neutral athlete (AIN) instead of the Irish luge athlete Elsa Desmond, who was deprived of this place. This was reported on the CAS website on January 31.

"The CAS Special Branch has determined that it has no jurisdiction to consider the appeal of the Irish Luge Federation (ILF) against the FIL," the agency said in a statement.

The CAS noted that the case could not be considered because it was outside the jurisdiction of the CAS Exit Panel (CAS ad hoc), where the ILF appealed. The arbitrator who reviewed the case concluded that the court's special department for the 2026 Olympic Games was created to resolve disputes that arise during the games or within 10 days before their opening. On these grounds, the Irish appeal was rejected.

Thus, the FIL's decision to grant a disputed place to a Russian athlete remains in force. The World Cup will be held in Oberhof from January 16 to January 18, 2026.

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A document published on the CAS website on January 29 indicates that the appeal of Russian skier Alexander Bolshunov, calling for a review of the decision not to be allowed to the Olympic Games, which will be held in Italy in 2026, has been rejected. The reply explains that the appeal does not fall under the jurisdiction of the special commission. Representatives authorized to resolve such issues, as specified in the CAS, deal with the relevant issues either 10 days before the start of the OI, or directly during the event itself.

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