Russia Challenges Athletics Ban
The Russian Athletics Federation has filed a claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge sanctions imposed by World Athletics, after the International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted Russia's suspension, potentially allowing the country to compete at the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles
The Russian Athletics Federation has filed a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge sanctions imposed by World Athletics, which have banned Russian athletes from international competition since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted Russia's suspension, potentially allowing the country to compete at the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles. This decision has sparked a new challenge from the Russian Athletics Federation, which claims that the ongoing sanctions 'infringe on the organisation's rights' and prevent it from fully representing the interests of Russian athletes on an international level.
Other sporting federations, including World Gymnastics, World Aquatics and World Boxing, have this year eased restrictions on Russian athletes competing. Some Russian and Belarusian athletes have also competed as neutrals at both the 2024 Paris Games and this year's Winter Olympics in Milan.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, serves as sport's highest arbitration body and will hear the dispute involving the Russian Athletics Federation and World Athletics. The Russian track federation was previously suspended for widespread doping in 2015.
## What happens next The Russian Athletics Federation has lodged a separate appeal on 9 July challenging a decision by the World Athletics Council to extend the ban on Russian athletes from international events. The outcome of these challenges will determine the future of Russian athletes in international competition.
The provisional lifting of Russia's suspension by the International Olympic Committee has significant implications for the country's participation in the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles. If the ban is lifted, Russian athletes may be able to compete under their national flag, rather than as neutrals. However, the outcome of the challenges to the World Athletics sanctions will ultimately determine the extent of Russia's participation in international athletics events.
