Russian Ski Federation selects Aleksandr Bolsjunov for World Cup

The Russian Ski Federation has selected four men and four women to participate in the upcoming cross-country skiing World Cup events in Ruka and Trondheim. Among the selected athletes are Olympic champion Aleksandr Bolsjunov and Veronika Stepanova.

Notably, several of the selected athletes, including Bolsjunov and Stepanova, have not yet received official approval for neutral status from the International Ski Federation (FIS). Analysts suggest the selection serves as a signal of strength and intent from the Russian federation, despite the lack of official clearance from FIS for several individuals on the list.