# World Athletics sanctions against Russia and Belarus

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/world-athletics-sanctions-against-russia-and-belarus
> Updated: 2026-09-14T00:31:35.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

World Athletics has maintained its sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has defended the exclusion, stating the policy is not about politics or passports but rather the ‘integrity of competition.’

The Russian Athletics federation has challenged these restrictions through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that the sanctions are ‘selective and politicised’ and hinder qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In response to the ongoing exclusion, Russian athletes have issued an open letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, claiming that over four years of being barred from international competition has caused ‘devastating damage’ to their professional careers.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: Russian athletes appeal to IOC and UN to end international competition ban

Russian athletes are appealing to the IOC and United Nations to overturn a World Athletics ban, claiming four years of exclusion has devastated their professional careers.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-athletes-appeal-to-ioc-and-un-to-end-international-competition-ban

### 2026-09-13: World Athletics maintains sanctions against Russia and Belarus

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe maintains that sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes remain unchanged despite a new legal challenge from the Russian Athletics federation at CAS.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/world-athletics-maintains-sanctions-against-russia-and-belarus

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Cite as: World Athletics sanctions against Russia and Belarus. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/world-athletics-sanctions-against-russia-and-belarus