Fine mess threatens Russians with athletics axe
RUSSIA could be expelled from World Athletics after missing the deadline to pay more than $9 million in fines.
The Russian federation (Rusaf) had claimed this week the financial impact of COVID-19 meant it could not afford to pay fines imposed after it admitted assisting an athlete in trying to avoid a doping sanction.
A statement from World Athletics confirmed Rusaf had missed the July 1 deadline for the $7.2 million fine and a further $1.89 million in costs for its reinstatement.
World Athletics has responded to that by suspending the program for enabling some athletes, subject to the doping review board, to compete as neutral athletes.
But senior sources have told The Times the World Athletics Council may revisit its decision and could recommend the Russians be expelled.
Congress usually coincides with the World Athletics Championships, which were to take place in Eugene next summer but have been postponed until the summer of 2022. An emergency congress is likely next year, although it could fall after the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.
An apparent refusal by Russia to comply lessens the likelihood of its suspension being lifted and the participation of its neutral athletes in Japan.
The Russians are threatening to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but World Athletics president Sebastian Coe made it clear he has an appetite for a fight.
A statement from the organisation said: “World Athletics will stand down the doping review board and the Russian taskforce until World Athletics’ Council has reviewed and discussed the situation on July 29-30, as set out in the decision made by the council on March 12.”