3 weeks ago
Russian Athletics files fresh CAS appeal against World Athletics sanctions
The Russian Athletics Federation is like the team in charge of the sport of running, jumping and throwing events in Russia.
For a long time, athletes from Russia have not been allowed to compete at big international athletics events.
This started after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
World Athletics, the group that runs the sport around the world, decided to keep these athletes out.
Russian Athletics thinks this is unfair.
So it asked a special sports court called CAS to help decide the argument.
CAS is like a referee for arguments in sports, based in Switzerland.
The Russian group says the punishment is too big and hurts young athletes in Russia.
World Athletics says it will keep defending its decision.
Now the court will decide what happens next.
Russian Athletics filed a fresh appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging World Athletics sanctions.
Russian athletes have been barred from international athletics events since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The federation says the sanctions infringe its rights and block its officials from meetings, coaching conferences and development programmes.
World Athletics said it will "strenuously defend" its position in the arbitration.
The new filing follows an appeal on July 9 against a July 3 council decision extending the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
- Who
- Russian Athletics and World Athletics, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the arbiter.
- What
- Russian Athletics filed a fresh appeal challenging World Athletics sanctions that exclude Russian athletes from international competition.
- Where
- The case is brought before CAS, based in Lausanne, Switzerland; the sanctions affect Russian and Belarusian athletes in international events.
- When
- The fresh appeal was announced on a Monday in July 2026, after an earlier appeal filed on July 9; the World Athletics Council reaffirmed the exclusion on July 3.
- Why
- Russian athletes were excluded after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and Russian Athletics argues the restrictions infringe its rights and hinder the sport's development in Russia.
Russian Athletics
World Athletics
Fairness of the sanctions
Russian Athletics
The sanctions are unprecedented, infringe the federation's rights, and hold back the development of athletics in Russia, especially among young athletes.
World Athletics
The sanctions are justified by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and broader concerns about the integrity of international sport, and World Athletics will strenuously defend its position.
Scope of restrictions
Russian Athletics
The restrictions go beyond competition, excluding Russian Athletics from decision-making, council meetings, votes, coaching conferences, seminars and professional development programmes.
World Athletics
Athletics has been among the most restrictive federations since the invasion, and continues to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes while some other sports allow limited neutral participation.
Key facts
- Complainant
- Russian Athletics (Russian Athletics Federation)
- Respondent
- World Athletics
- Arbitration body
- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Sanctions began
- 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine
- Affected athletes
- Russian and Belarusian athletes, excluded from international events
- Earlier appeal
- July 9, 2026, against the World Athletics Council decision
- Council reaffirmed exclusion
- July 3, 2026
- Russian Athletics CEO
- Boris Yaryshevskiy
Quotes
Boris Yaryshevskiy
Chief executive director of Russian Athletics
“"The sanctions against Russian Athletics are unprecedented. No other sports federation faces such severe restrictions."”
rediff.com
Sources
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