Russian olympic athletics Ban continues
Despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics as neutrals, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe maintained that Russian competitors would still be barred from track and field events. Coe emphasized the autonomy of international federations in making decisions and stated that the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in athletics remained unchanged. This decision contrasts with the IOC’s revised stance, allowing participation under certain conditions due to the conflict in Ukraine.
While Coe affirmed the current ban, he acknowledged the evolving nature of global situations, noting that “the world changes every five minutes.” He highlighted the existence of a working group within World Athletics actively monitoring developments in the sport. This group is poised to provide guidance and recommendations to the Council, potentially influencing decisions on exclusions based on changing circumstances. Despite the current stance, Coe hinted at the dynamic nature of the situation, indicating that circumstances might lead to a reassessment of the ban in the future.
