Russian Athletics Federation Appeals World Athletics Ban at CAS

The Russian Athletics Federation has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the ban imposed by World Athletics on all Russian and Belarusian track‑and‑field athletes. The suspension, first introduced in March 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was upheld by the World Athletics council, which rejected a conditional pathway for a return to competition. The federation argues the ban is discriminatory and restricts athletes’ right to compete. While the International Olympic Committee has recently softened its own restrictions for Russian participation in team events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, World Athletics says the sanctions protect the integrity of its competitions. CAS has acknowledged receipt of the request but has not set a hearing date, and World Athletics says it will vigorously defend its position.