Banned coach case could extend Russia’s track ban

Russia’s doping suspension from international track and field could be extended as top athletes face accusations they continued to work with a banned coach.

Russia was suspended from international competition in 2015 for widespread doping and had been nearing reinstatement. That process could be disrupted after the Russian anti-doping agency said athletes were training at a remote training base in Kyrgyzstan with Viktor Chegin, who has been linked to more than 30 doping cases and is banned for life.

“If it is confirmed that Russian race walkers are still working with Viktor Chegin, despite them having been specifically warned not to do so following his life ban from the sport, then it would appear that there has been no real change in culture in Russian track and field,” the IAAF’s Russia taskforce said in a statement Monday.

“It is hard to see how these athletes could be permitted to return to international competition without threatening the integrity of that competition.”

The taskforce adds it expects Russian track officials’ “full cooperation in bringing disciplinary proceedings against any athlete who has knowingly associated with a banned coach.”

In order to be reinstated, the IAAF has previously said Russia must show it is “establishing a strong anti-doping culture.”

Under anti-doping rules, athletes who knowingly work with a banned coach could face sanctions ranging from a reprimand to a ban from competition.

The IAAF has allowed dozens of Russian athletes, including six walkers, to return to international competition as neutrals after providing evidence they were clean.