World Athletics Maintains Ban on Russian Athletes

World Athletics has decided to maintain its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, a decision announced following a two-day meeting of the World Athletics Council in Paris. This ban, first imposed in March 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, remains in place as the council concluded that lifting the restrictions would not contribute to peace negotiations.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated that sanctions are necessary to protect the integrity of international athletic competitions. The Russian Athletic Federation expressed disappointment, labeling the decision as discriminatory and contrary to Olympic values, arguing that it unjustly prevents their athletes from competing internationally.

The federation also raised concerns about the long-term impact on young Russian athletes who are missing valuable competitive experiences. While some international sports bodies have begun to ease restrictions on Belarusian athletes, the ban on Russian athletes remains largely intact.

The ongoing conflict continues to disrupt Ukrainian athletes' training and competition opportunities, with World Athletics reaffirming its commitment to support them.