World Athletics to defend Russian athlete sanctions at CAS

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has pledged to defend his organization’s sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The move follows a new claim lodged by Russian Athletics, which argues that the current restrictions are “selective and politicised” and prevent the federation from representing the interests of Russian athletes internationally.

The sanctions were originally imposed in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. While other governing bodies, such as the International Skating Union and World Gymnastics, have eased restrictions on Russian competitors, World Athletics has maintained its ban. This stance contrasts with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has announced that Russian athletes will be permitted to compete in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.