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No reinstatement for Russian athletes at this stage: IAAF
The IAAF said on Friday that Russia’s track and field federation has not yet done enough to reform its anti-doping program to have its athletes reinstated to global competition.
The IAAF said on Friday that Russia’s track and field federation has not yet done enough to reform its anti-doping program to have its athletes reinstated to global competition.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe made the announcement on Friday at the end of a two-day council meeting, saying Russia “should not be reinstated at this stage.”
Coe said the IAAF will hold another council meeting in May to make a final decision on whether Russia will be readmitted in time for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.
The IAAF suspended Russia in November after an independent report detailed systematic corruption and doping cover-ups in the country. It laid down a series of criteria for the Russians to return before they can be eligible for readmission.
Coe added that Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya, Ukraine and Belarus are in “critical care” and must seriously improve their anti-doping programs.
