In a joint appeal dated September 10, Russian athletes wrote to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, the IOC Advisory Committee on Human Rights and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, asking for an end to World Athletics’ ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors.
The athletes argue that the four‑year exclusion has devastated a generation of sportspeople, stating, “For us, this is not an abstract legal or political issue. Athletics is our life. Four years is a long time in any life. In an athlete’s life, it can be the most significant years.”
World Athletics’ stance
World Athletics reaffirmed its decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes on July 3, maintaining sanctions that were first imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The federation’s president, Sebastian Coe, told reporters at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest that the ban is “not about politics or passports” but about “the integrity of competition.” He added that restoring full global participation remains an overall objective.
Legal challenges
Russian Athletics lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on July 9 and submitted a further appeal last month. The athletes also requested permission from CAS on July 17 to take part in the arbitration proceedings, but have not yet received a response.
They warn that prolonged uncertainty takes a personal toll, noting, “A legal or institutional process can continue for years. An athlete’s career cannot.”
International context
The appeal points to a growing disparity: while many international federations have begun to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes under neutral status, athletics remains one of the few sports where a full blanket exclusion persists. The IOC recently lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on July 8, a step toward reintegration ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
World Athletics has not commented further on the appeal, but the federation’s leadership continues to emphasize the need for a level playing field while acknowledging the broader desire for global participation.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
