Athletes Remain Suspended Despite Russia’s Doping Ban Lift; Linked to Ukraine War

The World Athletics organization has lifted the doping ban on Russia, but the suspension on Russian athletes still remains due to the country’s involvement in the war in Ukraine. World Athletics had originally banned Russia in 2015 after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report revealed widespread state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics.

In November 2019, Russia was handed a four-year ban from all major international sporting events, including the Olympics and the World Athletics Championships, by the WADA. However, the ban was later reduced to two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

While the ban on Russia has been lifted by World Athletics, individual athletes are still required to prove that they are clean before they are allowed to compete in international events. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) will also have to approve any athlete who wishes to compete in events and will monitor their participation in the sport.

The AIU will also review the Russian Athletics Federation’s (RusAF) reforms and policies, which were put in place after the doping scandal, to ensure that they comply with the anti-doping rules and regulations of World Athletics. The suspension of Russian athletes will be lifted only when the AIU is satisfied that they are competing under clean and fair conditions.

The situation will continue to be reviewed regularly by World Athletics, with the next review due in May 2023.

Staff Reporter