Former Russian cross-country skiing coach Markus Kramer claimed "we need the return of the Russians" to challenge Norway's athletes ©Getty Images

The former coach of Russia's national cross-country skiing team Markus Kramer has claimed that the country's athletes should be permitted to return to international competitions to challenge Norwegian dominance which he suggested is "bad for the sport".

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has followed the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by preventing Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in its competitions due to the war in Ukraine.

German coach Kramer worked with the Russian national team from 2015 until 2022, but his contract was not renewed at the end of last season in part due to issues paying his salary with sanctions in place against Russia.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was the last major sporting event where Russian and Belarusian athletes were permitted to participate.

Competing under the "neutral" Russian Olympic Committee banner due to anti-doping sanctions, they won four gold medals in cross-country skiing, with Norway earning five and Finland, Sweden and Germany one apiece.

Norwegian athletes have won 15 of the 17 men's events on the FIS Cross-Country World Cup and occupy four of the top five places on the overall standings.

Tiril Udnes Weng of Norway leads the women's World Cup standings, although five different nationalities are represented in the top five.

Kramer believes that a return of Russian athletes to the World Cup circuit would benefit cross-country skiing.

German Markus Kramer coached the Russian national cross-country skiing team from 2015 to 2022, but did not have his contract renewed in part due to sanctions against the country ©Getty Images
German Markus Kramer coached the Russian national cross-country skiing team from 2015 to 2022, but did not have his contract renewed in part due to sanctions against the country ©Getty Images

"In recent years, Russian skiers have returned to the top: Alexander Bolshunov, Sergey Ustyugov, Denis Spitsov - they can all win," Kramer told Russian daily newspaper Sport-Express.

"The girls are strong too - Natalya Nepryaeva, Yulia Stupak, others.

"You saw the competition in Lillehammer - eight Norwegians in the top ten.

"This is not very good for the sport, for the spectators.

"When only Norwegians are ahead, it's not interesting, people just turn off the TV.

"We need a variety of nations, not one hegemon.

"I have a lot of respect for the Norwegians and their results, but it's bad for the sport.

"This is one of the reasons why we need the return of the Russians, but we want to see other teams on the top, or better on the podium."

The IOC has insisted that its recommendations on Russian and Belarusian athletes are a "protective measure", but has moved to explore the possibility of them competing in Asian qualifiers for Paris 2024.

The FIS has extended its ban on Russia and Belarus until at least the end of the 2022-2023 season, and Russia has began organising events outside of its jurisdiction.