World Athletics Stance on Russian Athlete Ban Unchanged, Coe Says

10:22 AM ETDeveloping

Sports Desk

In Short: World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has reaffirmed the organization's stance on sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes, despite ongoing legal challenges.

World Athletics' stance on sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes will not change," said Coe, the organization's new president. "That matters to me, so our position won't change," he added, emphasizing the need to resolve the issue and ensure a "full complement of people on a global level competing in our sport.

The Russian Athletics Federation has filed a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the sanctions imposed by World Athletics. Should the CAS ruling favor Russian Athletics, it could pave the way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been excluded from international competitions since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In an open letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other human rights bodies, the athletes argued that the continued ban was having a devastating impact and amounted to collective punishment. The letter highlighted that athletics remains one of the few sports where Russian athletes face a full blanket exclusion, unlike in other sports where athletes compete under neutral status.

Russian Athletics has appealed to the CAS, with an additional appeal filed last month. The Russian athletes have also separately asked the CAS for permission to participate in the appeal proceedings, though they have yet to receive a response.

What's still developing

Sebastian Coe was elected president of World Athletics - then known as the IAAF - in August, 2015 World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says the governing body's stance on sanctions imposed on Russia will not change.
Coe, who won two Olympic gold medals during a celebrated athletics career, has pledged to attend the Cas hearing to help present the case of World Athletics.
Russian Athletics executive director Boris Yaryshevsky, in an interview with the Russian TASS news agency last week, criticised Coe's intention to attend the Cas hearing.
Other sporting federations, including World Gymnastics, World Aquatics and World Boxing, have this year removed restrictions on Russian athletes competing.
Some Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals at both the 2024 Paris Games and this year's Winter Olympics in Milan.

Sources

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