Russia loses appeal to overturn ban from competing in world games

World Today

Russia has lost its latest appeal to overturn a ban from world athletic games. The athletics governing body says Russia needs further reforms, before it can compete once more on the global stage.

CCTV’s Dan Williams reports Russia has one remaining review before the Olympics.

Monaco has a reputation for being a playground for the world’s rich and famous, but it’s also the backdrop for the latest development in Russia’s anti-doping saga.

On top of the agenda for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the sport’s world governing body, was whether Russia has done enough to have its suspension lifted and allow the country’s athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics in August.

But IAAF President Sebastian Coe says more needs to be done. 

“The task-force wanted more time. Some progress has been made. They want to see greater progress in some key areas and the task-force is very clear. The criteria is very clear. There are five very important criteria that need to be met. There is no ambiguity about it. And the council accepted the recommendation of the task-force that they be given more time to be able to report on progress in those five key areas,” Coe said.

The IAAF suspended Russia in November after an independent report by the World Anti-Doping Agency detailed systematic corruption and doping cover-ups in the country.

The IAAF ordered a series of criteria for the Russians to meet before they would then be eligible for readmission.

Russian authorities believe they are on the right path but admit there’s still much more to do.

“It is our main task to show that it is real changes, real changes in our federation. First of all in our anti-doping policy and if we do it. If we follow the task-force recommendations I am sure the council will appreciate it. But of course, I cannot be confident that it will be positive for us,” Russian IAAF council member Mikhail Butov said.

The path for Russian athletic program is clear. More reforms are required if the country is to send a track and field team to the Rio Olympics. The clock is ticking. In two months we will have a final answer.