OBERHOFEN, Switzerland—The International Ski Federation lifted a threat to suspend Russian skiers from competition on Saturday after national officials met demands to improve their anti-doping program.
The FIS ruling council said it would continue watching the reorganized Russian association to ensure its reforms continued.
“The council acknowledged the positive steps taken to address the many problems in a truly meaningful way,” FIS said in a statement. “This approach of the Russian Ski Association must be a new beginning and it will monitor progress whilst supporting the ongoing work.”
FIS warned Russia in June that its skiers could be barred from their home Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.
Russian officials then fired several cross-country skiing coaches and support staff who worked with skiers caught using the banned blood-booster EPO. Athletes are being tested more often in training and after races, and anti-doping education programs have been improved.
Russia’s reputation for winter sports doping had prompted International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge to intervene with state President Dmitry Medvedev.
The FIS also confirmed Saturday that the Colorado twin resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek will host the 2015 Alpine worlds from Feb. 3-15.
