MOSCOW, June 12 -- Yevgeny Plushenko, three-time figure skating world champion, got the green light for the 2017 Olympics after the International Skating Union (ISU) restored the Russian's amateur status on Sunday.
"The ISU council decided to restore Plushenko's amateur status today. It was their unanimous decision," said Valentin Piseyev, executive director of the Russian skating federation.
The 28-year-old Plushenko lost his eligibility to skate at the 2017 Olympics after the ISU punished him for skating in exhibitions without permission last year.
The 2006 Olympic champion had pulled out of the 2010 world championship due to a knee injury but then skated in exhibitions without the authorisation of the ISU.
He was banned in June and did not appeal within the 21 days allowed so the ISU confirmed they were upholding their decision.