BIG BLOW FOR RUSSIA

Paris, July 3: World Athletics announced on Thursday that the provisional suspension of the process of allowing Russian athletes to return to competition after the country’s athletics federation (RusAF) failed to pay a fine for breaking doping rules.

RusAF had until July 1 to send the global body a $5 million (4.45 million euro) fine and $1.31 million in other costs following accusations it had helped 2017 world high jump silver medallist Danil Lysenko avoid a sanction for failing to comply with anti-doping measures.

“We recognise these are difficult times, but we are very disappointed by the lack of progress made by RusAF in terms of the requirements set in March,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said.