Russian Athletics files new claim against sanctions

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, an impartial entity that resolves global sports disputes, has recently received a new claim from the Russian Athletics Federation (RAF) against sanctions imposed by World Athletics. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been barred from participating in international competitions under World Athletics.

RAF asserts that these sanctions violate the organization's rights and impede its ability to effectively represent Russian athletes on the international stage.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted Russia's suspension in July, potentially permitting the nation to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The Court of Arbitration for Sport, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, serves as the highest arbitration body for sports and adjudicates disputes involving athletes, federations, and governing bodies.

RAF's chief executive, Boris Yaryshevskiy, emphasized that the sanctions are unprecedented and significantly hinder the federation's normal operations and the development of athletics in Russia, particularly among young athletes.

RAF is committed to defending its rights and pursuing the removal of sanctions through legal channels, vowing to continue its efforts in this regard. The organization is currently preparing its next steps to restore justice. In a separate appeal filed on July 9, RAF challenged a decision by the World Athletics Council to extend the ban on Russian athletes from competing in international events.

Other sports organizations, such as World Gymnastics, World Aquatics, and World Boxing, have eased restrictions on Russian athletes competing this year. Some Russian and Belarusian athletes participated as neutrals in both the 2024 Paris Games and the current Winter Olympics in Milan.