Russia doping suspension to stay
MONTE CARLO: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council has decided to maintain its suspension of Russia from international competition before all verification criteria are fully met.
“Since the IAAF Congress in August, the IAAF Taskforce has been in constant communication with RUSAF (Russian Athletics Federation) and its President Dmitri Shlyakhtin. Shlyakhtin has impressed us with his professionalism, and his pursuing to change the old doping culture in Russian track and field,” Rune Andersen, independent Chair of the IAAF Russian Taskforce, said at a press conference on Sunday as the Council's two-day 212th meeting concluded here, reports Xinhua news agency.
In April 2017, the IAAF Council approved a roadmap proposed by the taskforce that identified six specific conditions to be met in order for the Taskforce to be able to recommend Rusaf's reinstatement.
“Some of the milestones on the Roadmap to Rusaf's reinstatement have been met, at least in part. However, several key milestones remain outstanding,” said Andersen.
The IAAF Council suspended RUSAF from membership in November 2015, after a World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission concluded there was a culture of systematic doping in Russian athletics, ruling out Russian athletes' chances of competing at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 and the World Championships in London this year.
According to the taskforce, of the five remaining conditions in the roadmap, acknowledgement of Mclaren findings and reinstatement of RUSADA have not been met. NEW DELHI: International Hockey Federation president Narinder Batra has filed his nominations for the post of the president of the Indian Olympic Association weeks ahead of its General Body Meeting on December 14 here.
The upcoming AGM will elect a new set of office bearers for the country's apex sports body.
Batra has filed four sets of nomination papers with a proposer and seconder each. IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta was one of the proposers of Batra while treasurer Anil Khanna was one of the seconders. Khanna was earlier considered as one of the possible candidates for the top job.
Interestingly, Batra has also filed another three sets of nomination papers for the post of senior vice-president.
Incumbent Secretary General Rajeev Mehta also filed nomination papers, seeking reelection to the same post he is currently holding. He also filed four sets of nomination papers with Batra proposing him for the post in one of them.