IAAF: Russia Not Doing Enough to Get Reinstated

(ATR) Seb Coe says he is "disappointed" with the lack of progress being made by Russia in their efforts to be free from doping in athletics.

Coe was speaking at a press conference in London, alongside new CEO Olivier Gers, following a council meeting of the International Association of Athletics Federations, of which he is president.

The meeting included a report from the taskforce led by Norwegian Rune Andersen on the status of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) in their bid to be reinstated into the athletics world, having been banned in November 2015 due to numerous doping violations.

But Coe lamented that the report showed little progress was being made by Russia, aside from some strong words in the media.

"The taskforce was disappointed with the lack of progress since their last report," he said. "Particularly in key areas around testing, the ability to get hold of biological passport samples, the ongoing issue around closed cities and ongoing employment of coaches from a tainted system still plying their trade.

"There is no reason why better progress has not been made and RusAF should be under no illusion: the criteria we laid down is the one which stands. This is what we are working to and will stick to."

He added: "We will continue to be tough. There is no timeline. This criteria is not a mix 'n' match. It has to be met. Disappointed is a good word because there is no reason why better progress has not been made."

Earlier this week, the IAAF cleared seven more Russian athletes to compete neutrally at the World Championships in London later this year. But Coe said that should not be taken as a sign of the governing body "weakening its resolve".

"It has always been our intention to separate the athletes eligible to compete from the tainted system," he said.

"We will continue to do that. But this is not a shortcut to re-introduction."

Coe continued: "The next steps are to try to maintain the progress that has been made - and there has been some progress - but there are some very, very big gaps that need to be bridged.

"I'm disappointed. I see no reasons why better progress should not have been made. I don't think it's that complicated."

In the report, Andersen said he would write to RusAF president Dimitri Shlyakhtin to explain his concerns and schedule a meeting.

Coe also confirmed that the council had agreed not to propose the removal of any disciplines from the Olympic program, allaying fears that the 50km race walk would be cut from the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The International Olympic Committee were understood to have put pressure on the IAAF to remove the event, given that the distance only applies to men with women competing in a 20km race.

However, Coe confirmed the earlier news that no athletics events were being cut from the program.

"The council has decided not to remove any disciplines [from the Tokyo 2020 prgramme] given that athletes are already a year or more into their training cycle," he said.

Women will get to participate in a 50km race walk at the London World Championships, which takes place from August 4-13.

Written and reported by Christian Radnedgein London.

Follow him on Twitter @ChristianRad

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