No quick return to World Athletics events for Russia in face of dual ban despite IOC stance, says boss Seb Coe

While the International Olympic Committee prevaricates about the “dilemma” of banning Russian athletes from the 2024 Paris Games, World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe has made it clear that as far as his sport is concerned they remain very much on the outside, twice-over.

Thomas Bach, the IOC president, said last week that a lengthy debate resulted in the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remaining in place, but that there were discussions about potentially allowing some individuals to take part as neutral athletes.

The Russian Athletics Federation has been banned from the sport since 2015 as a result of the country’s widespread doping and state-sponsored cover-up, though a number of athletes have been allowed to compete as neutrals if they can show a “clean record” that also disassociates them from the tainted system.

Sanctions imposed by the IOC include the ban on any of their anthems, flags or national symbols and they will remain, but they have now opened the door for the potential lifting of the blanket ban on athletes competing, which they term “protective measures”.

“Our position on Russian participation has been very clear from the outset,” Coe said. “All athletes, personnel and the whole entourage are excluded from World Athletics series of events for the foreseeable future because of the Ukraine situation.

“The IOC made very clear that the sanctions remain but for us it’s a slightly more complicated and nuanced landscape because of course we have the two streams of work running alongside each other.

“The IOC pretty much made it clear that it is for the federations to evaluate the situation for their own sports and we will continue to protect the integrity of our sport.”