IAAF says 'no' to Russia's return

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 12, 2016
Adjust font size:

World athletics' governing body has ruled that Russia has not yet met all the conditions in eradicating doping for a global ban to be lifted in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics, TASS news agency reported, citing Russian athletics chief Mikhail Butov.

He said that the International Association of Athletics Federations would take a decision in May on whether to lift a ban in time for Rio

Norwegian Rune Andersen, a former director of the World Anti-Doping Agency, was appointed to lead a five-person task force reviewing Russian reform efforts after its suspension from global competition in November. The IAAF council was meeting in Monaco yesterday to rule on Russia's suspension

Last week a documentary on German TV channel ARD said Russia had made little progress on reform, that coaches banned for doping were still operating in the country and officials newly-installed as part of the clean-up were tipping off athletes ahead of drugs tests.

Dick Pound, co-author of the WADA commission's report that led to Russia's ban, said on Wednesday he felt the country was not showing enough urgency to make the necessary changes.

The Rio athletics program begins on August 12 but registration must be completed about a month before that which would be too late for a majority of Russian athletes who would still need to record Olympic-standard qualifying times.

That means the ban would need to be lifted weeks before that deadline, some time in June or even late May.

One Russian athlete could be on duty, however, if the IAAF decides to follow a WADA request to recommend Yulia Stepanova be allowed to compete under an IOC flag.

Stepanova, an 800 meters runner formerly banned for doping, became the chief whistle-blower to expose Russia's doping regime and is currently living in Canada after being branded a "traitor" by many in her own country.

Outside Russia, Kenya is in the midst of a doping crisis, with more than 40 track athletes failing drug tests since 2012 and four senior track officials suspended by the IAAF for "potential subversion of the anti-doping control process in Kenya".

Kenya has until April 5 to fall in line with global anti-doping rules or face being declared non-compliant by WADA. That could lead to the country being suspended from international competition.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter