IIHF ordered to allow Russia back into world championships

In a statement published on Friday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it had overturned International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) decisions, which exclude Russia from events during the 2026-27 season, including the men's and women's world championships. In the statement, the CAS cited a lack of sufficient evidence to support security concerns cited by the IIHF in its decisions to exclude Russian teams from competition. Specifically, it ordered the IIHF to allow Russia to participate in five upcoming tournaments, including the Men's Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany next May and the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship scheduled for November 2027 in Canada.