Jelena Välbe has officially confirmed her departure as the president of the Russian skiing federation, a position she has held since 2010. The confirmation comes as the federation is undergoing a significant reorganization which will see the ski federation cease to exist in its current form. Instead, a new larger winter sports federation is set to be established, paving the way for a change in leadership and structure within Russian winter sports.

Välbe's tenure has been marked by controversy within the international skiing community, making her departure significant in the context of Russian sports governance and representation. She stated, 'I will definitely not hold that title anymore, as we will not have a federation at all.' This reflects a fundamental shift in how Russian winter sports will be organized moving forward, with a new entity expected to take its place.

The new organization will be overseen by a representative from the State Duma, similar to the role of the Norwegian Storting in legislative matters. This implies a potentially closer alignment between Russian sports and state governance, particularly under the current political climate where President Vladimir Putin's political party holds dominance. Välbe's exit from her role could signify broader changes and the impact of political influences on sports in Russia.