The international athletics organization World Athletics announced the introduction of additional measures against the All-Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA), which at the end of last year was convicted of another doping violation. According to the British The Daily Telegraph, VFLA will pay a fine of $ 10 million and will be able to send only 10 athletes who will perform in neutral status to international competitions this year.
The organization World Athletics (formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations) allowed only 10 Russian athletes to take part in the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo and the European Athletics Championships under a neutral flag, the British The Daily Telegraph reports. According to the newspaper, the decision was announced on Thursday.
As the observer of the publication recalls, Russian athletes were forbidden to represent their country in international competitions back in 2015; meanwhile, the process of restoring the All-Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA) in World Athletics since then has been suspended in November last year after a doping scandal with Russian jumper Danil Lysenko. In connection with the Lysenko case, World Athletics called for a complete ban on all Russians from participating in competitions for a long period, however, she decided to resume the process of restoring VFLA due to “serious changes” that have occurred within the federation in recent months; Nevertheless, the international organization nevertheless applied “strict measures” to the Russians, allowing only 10 Russian athletes in neutral status to the main sporting events this year, as well as fined them $ 10 million for doping violations.
“The idea is to create an incentive to trigger real change, – said the head of the World Athletics working group on Russian doping violations, Rune Andersen. – As part of this discussion, we wanted to establish what is needed in order to change culture. The system that we used in the past – neutral status – did not allow us to achieve the changes that we wanted. “.
As noted in The Daily Telegraph, Russia put up one “neutral” athlete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, whereas last year 28 Russians took part in the neutral status of the Doha World Athletics Championships in Doha. “We tried to find a number that would induce change, and stopped at 10 athletes”– explained Rune Andersen.
“The decision will mean that athletes such as the three-time world champion in high jumps Maria Latsiskene, who openly criticized the former leadership of the VFLA, as well as the world champion in pole vaults, Angelika Sidorova, and multiple prize-winner of international 110-meter hurdles Sergey Shubenkov most likely will be able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics “, Writes The Daily Telegraph columnist. According to the newspaper, the limit of 10 athletes will be reviewed at the end of the year.
As part of World Athletics sanctions, VFLA will also be required “Draw up a detailed plan for the implementation of a zero tolerance doping policy” among Russian athletes; Two foreign experts will monitor the implementation of the plan, the material says. “This package of sanctions reflects the seriousness of the VFLA’s misconduct and gives it a clear signal, – commented on the move of World Athletics organization president Sebastian Coe. – As you can see, the steps taken earlier were not enough to change the culture within Russian athletics. We hope that such additional measures will be enough for real changes to be realized. ”.
Russia is currently leading “Separate struggle” against the four-year suspension of all her athletes from participating in international competitions, introduced in December by the World Anti-Doping Agency, recalls a columnist for The Daily Telegraph. According to the newspaper, the issue will be considered in the Sports Arbitration Court in the coming months.
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