IAAF To Decide Russia's Future This Week - Federation Focus

(ATR) Russia could be expelled from the global athletics family later this week.

The IAAF Council is meeting in Buenos Aires on Thursday and Friday and is expected to decide whether to exclude the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) for its slow progress in meeting conditions for reinstatement.

The IAAF in March warned RusAF that it had to be in compliance with the federation’s demands by the time of this week’s meeting or face possible expulsion. Russia has been suspended since November 2015.

In March, Rune Andersen, chair of the IAAF taskforce working towards RusAF’s reinstatement, reeled off a list of conditions that Russia had still not met. Andersen told Around the Rings at the time that Russia’s failure to acknowledge the McLaren Report on state-sponsored doping "is a big issue".

The IAAF introduced last December a simplified application process to allow Russian athletes to compete as neutrals in international competitions. As of earlier this month, 67 Russian athletes had been declared eligible under the updated guidelines.

AIBA Encouraged by IOC Comments

Interim AIBA President Gafur Rahimov says he believes the federation is making progress on reforms that the IOC is demanding to keep boxing in the Tokyo Olympics.

In his monthly note to the federation, Rahimov says the IOC has acknowledged the work that’s being done with governance, drug testing, Tokyo weight categories and finance.

"I truly believe that this is a positive step forward for our organization. However, as we look to the future it is also important to recognize that there are still some ongoing concerns that we must continue to address and clarify with our stakeholders. This is without a doubt an achievable task," said Rahimov.

Last week IOC President Thomas Bach remarked during a press conference that the changes AIBA is proposing still need ratification by the federation congress in November. He said until that happens, the IOC will not consider lifting of its suspension of payments and contacts levied last year.

FIS Leader Visits Beijing 2022

FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis reviewed plans for the 2022 Winter Olympics this week at the organizing committee headquarters in Beijing.

The meeting focused on the five new events approved last week by the IOC Executive Board for the Beijing sports program. New events include ski Jumping mixed team, freestyle ski mixed team aerials and big air for men and ladies, as well as the snowboard cross mixed team.

The IOC is still considering whether to include the alpine ski individual parallel competition, a decision expected by the end of the year.

World Sailing Championships in Aarhus

Sailors from more than 100 countries are expected to compete at the Hempel World Sailing Championships in Aarhus, Denmark from July 30 to August 12.

All 10 Olympic sailing classes plus kitesurfing will be contested in the waters of the Bay of Aarhus. The event is the first major Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2020, so competitors will have an additional incentive to winning a world championship medal.

The world championships will be one of the largest sporting events ever held in Denmark. A new world class sailing center, opened in May, is the venue for the event, which takes place on the Docklands at the exact spot where the Vikings founded Aarhus.

Written by Gerard Farekand Ed Hula

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