One ban falls, another stays – Sport

Track and field athletes from Russia and Belarus are still not allowed to take part in international competitions because of the Ukraine war. That was decided by the Council of the world association World Athletics (WA). The suspension of the Russian national association Rusaf because of state-shielded doping was lifted after more than seven years. The Russian association received 35 conditions that must be met in the next three years.

Rune Andersen, head of WA’s Russia Task Force, said he was pleased with the “new culture of good governance and zero tolerance of doping throughout the organisation”. Russia was banned in November 2015 for systematic doping. Since then, only individual Russian athletes have been allowed to start as neutral athletes after being tested.

Because of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, WA extended a separate suspension. “The death and destruction” that the world has endured since the attack on Ukraine around a year ago, “including the death of 185 athletes, has only increased my resolve on this matter,” said WA President Sebastian Coe. His association is thus opposing the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This is working on re-admitting athletes from Russia and Belarus under certain conditions. The IOC could adopt corresponding recommendations for the world associations next Tuesday.

Starting ban for transgender athletes

The world federation also decided to no longer allow transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty to compete in world rankings in the women’s category, regardless of their current testosterone levels. Before making the decision, the association consulted intensively with various stakeholders, including 40 national associations, the IOC and trans groups. “The majority of respondents stated that transgender athletes should not compete in the female category,” said Coe. “Many feel that there is insufficient evidence that trans women do not have an advantage over biological women.”