Russia challenges World Athletics ban on sports fields as IOC eases restrictions | More sports news

A man walks out of the Russian National Olympic Committee building in Moscow, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo)

The Russian Athletics Federation has turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to overturn a decision by World Athletics to suspend Russian athletes from international competition because of the war in Ukraine.World Athletics banned athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus from all international competitions in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.The governing body decided to continue the suspension at a council meeting last week. The move comes even as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently eased its restrictions on Russian athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and recommended other international sports federations follow a similar approach. The Kremlin described the IOC’s decision as an “important step”.The Russian Athletics Federation said in a statement that the continued suspension unfairly affects its athletes.“Russian Athletics notes that the decision of World Athletics affects the fundamental interests of athletics in Russia and restricts the right of Russian athletes to compete, on grounds that Russian Athletics considers discriminatory.“Russian athletics continues to implement all available legal measures to protect the interests of Russian athletes.”CAS has not yet confirmed whether it has officially registered the case, AP news agency reported.Last week, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the governing body discussed the possibility of creating a “conditional pathway back to international competition” for Russian and Belarusian athletes, but ultimately decided against it.“We have presented options for the council to consider on this issue, however, the original decision remains on sanctions that protect the integrity and fairness of our competitions, without tangible progress towards peace talks,” he said.Russia has not competed under its flag at the World Athletics Championships since 2015, when its federation was suspended due to a widespread doping scandal.Although a system allowing Russian athletes to compete as neutrals was later introduced, it was withdrawn in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine. World Athletics lifted the original suspension for doping in 2023.No Russian athletes competed in athletics at the 2024 Paris Olympics because athletics qualifications were controlled by the World Athletics Federation, despite the IOC allowing neutral athletes to compete in several other sports.