Milan, Italy – While lifting threats of doping sanctions against Russian cross-country skiers, the International Ski Federation (FIS) Ruling Council on Saturday suspended Italian Ski Federation president Giovanni Morzenti following his conviction on extortion charges.nThe FIS opted to suspend Morzenti until his criminal appeal plays out in Italian courts. Any proxy the Italian Ski Federation may send to council meetings will not have voting rights.

Morzenti was sentenced by a court in Cuneo, Italy, on Oct. 30 to four and a half years in prison following his conviction on charges involving payoffs for financial protection. The Italian federation is also investigating Morzenti on charges of election fraud. He maintains his innocence in both cases.

The FIS also on Saturday cleared the way for Russian skiers to compete on the World Cup after the Russian Ski Association met FIS demands to tighten up its anti-doping program.

“The council acknowledged the positive steps taken to address the many problems in a truly meaningful way,” FIS said in a prepared statement released Saturday. “This approach of the Russian Ski Association must be a new beginning and it will monitor progress whilst supporting the ongoing work.”

The FIS had previously threatened to ban Russian skiers from sanctioned competition, including the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held on their home snow in Sochi.

To meet FIS expections, Russian officials fired several coaches and trainers who had helped athletes use the banned blood agent EPO.