IAAF not yet ready to lift Russia’s track and field ban

The IAAF is not ready to lift Russia’s suspension from track and field competitions as the country fails to fully accept the findings of an investigation into its state-sponsored doping scheme.

A meeting of the international track and field federation’s member associations in London tomorrow will be asked to maintain the ban on russia that was imposed in 2015 after World Anti-doping Agency investigator Richard Mclaren exposed how failed drug tests were covered up.

Rune Andersen, the IAAF’S Russia taskforce chairman, wants assurances that the Mclaren report’s findings “have been properly acknowledged and addressed, and there will be no repetition”.

The Russian athletics federation “has not yet demonstrated to the satisfaction of the taskforce that it has established a strong anti-doping culture within its sport, or that it has created an open environment that encourages whistleblowing,” Andersen said in his latest report to the IAAF Council on Monday.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe is leaving Andersen’s taskforce to decide when Russia should be allowed back into the track and field fold.

“Although there is progress, there is still more work to be done,” Coe said.