Russian athletes appeal for end to World Athletics ban

BUDAPEST: Russian athletes have called for an end to World Athletics' ban on Russian competitors, saying the four-year exclusion has devastated their careers. In an open letter sent to key sporting and human rights organizations on September 10, the athletes argued that the prolonged restriction was having a devastating impact. World Athletics reaffirmed its decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competition on July 3, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russian Athletics has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and filed another appeal. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe reiterated that the federation's stance had not changed ahead of the arbitration proceedings, stressing that the issue is about the integrity of competition, not politics or passports.

Russian athletes contend that the federation's stance is collective punishment and out of step with other sports federations, which have gradually reintroduced Russian and Belarusian athletes under neutral status. The IOC has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, signaling progress towards reintegration ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but Russian athletes remain excluded from international athletics competition.