The status of the Russian Federation is one of the most challenging decisions in modern sport. It may be the last chance that the sport has to control doping in sport. The IOC wants Russian doping to just go away. The financial stakes are huge for the IOC and global sports. How do you run majorr events without one of the top global sport countries?
Moscow 2013, photo by PhotoRun.net
The IAAF Council announced today that there had been no change in status of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF).
The Taskforce chairman Rune Andersen reported to the IAAF Council meeting in Doha today that two key issues remain outstanding for reinstatement of RusAF:
- payment of the outstanding costs. RusAF has raised some logistical issues about payment. The IAAF will get these resolved shortly.
- receipt of the analytical data and any samples that the AIU needs from the Moscow lab in order to determine which athletes have a case to answer under the IAAF anti-doping rules. The data is currently being processed and authenticated by WADA, and WADA has committed to getting it to the AIU as a priority.
The Taskforce also took note of the allegation from German television network ARD that some coaches from the old regime are involved again with coaching national team athletes. This runs counter to assurances the Taskforce has previously received from RusAF that it is disassociating itself from the old regime. The Taskforce will be asking RusAF for urgent clarification.
IAAF
