Russian athletics federation takes World Athletics ban fight to CAS

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The governing body for Russian track and field has filed a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to reverse a World Athletics ban that bars its competitors from global meets because of the conflict in Ukraine.

In March 2022, shortly after Russian troops entered Ukraine, World Athletics shut out athletes from Russia and Belarus. That exclusion was reconfirmed at a council session last week.

In the interim, the International Olympic Committee has loosened its own limits on Russian participation ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles — a move the Kremlin called an “important step” — and urged other federations to follow suit.

“Russian Athletics notes that World Athletics’ decision affects the fundamental interests of athletics in Russia and restricts Russian athletes’ right to compete, on grounds that Russian Athletics considers discriminatory,” the Russian track federation said in a statement.

“Russian Athletics continues to pursue all available legal measures to protect the interests of Russian athletes.”

World Athletics said it would contest the challenge. “We take note of the Russian athletics federation’s appeal to CAS, and we will be strenuously defending our position,” it said in a statement.

CAS said it had received “a request for arbitration” but offered no timetable for a hearing.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said last week that officials had weighed “a conditional pathway back into international competition” for athletes from Russia and Belarus, yet chose not to open one.