No Timeframe for Russian Athletics Federation Reinstatement

(ATR) World Athletics president Sebastian Coe and Russia taskforce chair Rune Andersen provided an update on suspended Russian track and field athletes, among other anti-doping matters, following two days of virtual Council meetings.

Andersen noted that he and newly elected Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) president Pyotr Ivanov engaged in a video call prior to the start of Tuesday’s World Athletics Council meeting to discuss further course of action for the embattled federation to be reinstated.

"We had an open and constructive discussion and he expressed his determination to do what is necessary to achieve these goals," Andersen said about Ivanov. "We agreed to stay in touch and meet in person as soon as conditions allow. In the meantime, I have asked him to work closely to move the project forward."

Pressed about a potential timeframe for Russia’s return to competition with the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games just over seven months away, Andersen would not commit.

"We will have to see how the RusAF community responds to the strategic plan that has and will be put in place," Andersen said.

"It depends upon the circumstances – if the new regime at RusAF delivers in accordance with the strategic plan and re-instatement commission and also meets all the requirements set this is the decision today that this can be reconsidered by the taskforce and with recommendation to the Council."

Ivanov, who was elected the new RusAF president on Monday, obtaining 56 of 73 votes, has stated that overseeing Russia’s return to World Athletics, after five years of suspension following allegations of state-sponsoring doping, is his main priority.

Andersen noted that with a comprehensive plan and road map in place, progress is being made with RusAF continuing to pay costs incurred by World Athletics.

"Well-qualified international experts have been appointed who will work on the ground with RusAF in Russia helping it to draw up a detailed, strategic and operational plan with clear objectives and timelines," said the Danish taskforce leader.

"The international experts have already begun with the senior RusAF management team and have reported that the team has been very responsive and constructive in its approach.

"The stage has therefore been set for the newly elected RusAF president.

"If he puts the necessary commitment and resources behind the project and wins the support of RusAF’s key stakeholders in Moscow and in the regions, then the taskforce and international experts stand ready to help achieve the re-instatement of RusAF’s membership to World Athletics and the re-introduction of its athletes to international competitions."

Ivanov is currently also the head of the Russian Triathlon Federation (RTF) and director general of Russia’s High-Speed Railways company.

Coe was asked if RusAF meets requirements, would he personally like to see Russian Federation athletes compete under their own flag at the Tokyo Olympics.

"We have to be clear about process here – ANA status for us is a matter for the World Athletics Council and our review boards that deal with that," Coe responded, referring to Authorized Neutral Athletes.

"My principle philosophy has always been that it is possible to separate the clean athletes from the tainted system around them, the proposal that we’ve created around the ANAs.

"The Olympic Games clearly, and the presence of those athletes in that situation where flags and colors are able to be adopted, is entirely a matter for the International Olympic Committee, but it is also in line with what we want to do in order to get our competitors, the Russian neutral competitors, into competition.

"And that is still subject to the appeal with WADA as well."

Coe addressed a question from Around the Rings regarding athletes expressing concern that drug cheats are capitalizing on pandemic restrictions, making it easier for them to avoid testing while they are training and locked away at home.

"Within the confines of appropriateness, I do discuss broader policy implications with the Athletes Integrity Unit and I think we were clear at the beginning of the pandemic that this would pose some significant challenges," Coe said.

"I was pleased that our national anti-doping agencies around the world, the Athletics Integrity Unit and WADA were still able to maintain, as best as they could, a comprehensive testing program.

"I made the point to athletes – don’t think you’re going to be in a test recess and do treat issues like whereabouts and the protocol surrounding anti-doping very seriously."

Coe said that he recently had a virtual meeting with new WADA president Witold Banka and they agreed to stay "vigilant and as clear as possible about maintaining downward pressure on any tendency on any part of our sport to see this as a testing holiday."

"Challenges, yes, but I’m pretty comforted that the best people understand these challenges and are meeting them."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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