Russia accepts indefinite athletics ban, say IAAF

The Russian athletics federation has accepted full suspension over its doping scandal and has promised to co-operate with inspectors who will oversee changes to its drug-testing system.

The IAAF, world athletics' governing body, confirmed the full suspension after a council meeting in Monaco and that the Russian federation (ARAF) had not requested a hearing.

An IAAF statement said: “IAAF Council was today informed that written confirmation had been received yesterday from ARAF accepting their full suspension without requesting a hearing as was their constitutional right.

“ARAF confirmed they understood that council would only accept their reinstatement as an IAAF member following the recommendation of the IAAF inspection team who will decide if the verification criteria have been fulfilled. ARAF confirmed they will co-operate fully and actively with the team.”

Russia became the first country to be banned from international competition due to doping offences after a meeting of IAAF Council members earlier this month. Officials voted 22-1 in favour of the provisional sanction, which came in the wake of damning revelations by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) of systematic doping and cover-ups in Russia. That provisional sanction has now become a full suspension.

A letter to the IAAF from ARAF general secretary Mikhail Butov states: “We recognise suspension without a hearing. We understand fully that IAAF Council could reinstate ARAF as a member according to its decision after solutions and recommendation of IAAF verification commission only. We will co-operate with nominated commission very actively.”

Russia has already lost hosting rights to next year’s Race Walking World Cup and the World Junior Championships, due to take place in Cheboksary and Kazan respectively.

It will also be suspended for the World Indoor Championships in March, but is desperate for its athletes to be allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics next summer.