The Russian Athletics Federation has filed a new application with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) seeking to lift restrictions on Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions.
The Russian federation took this step after World Athletics extended its restrictions on Russian athletes. The organization decided to initiate new legal proceedings to have the sanctions annulled.
Yarishevski calls sanctions unprecedented
Boris Yarishevski, president of the Russian Athletics Federation’s Executive Board, described the restrictions imposed on his country as “unprecedented.” Yarishevski said no other sports federation had faced sanctions of such severity.
According to Yarishevski, the sanctions have disrupted the federation’s regular activities and harmed the development of athletics in Russia. The Russian official said young athletes had been particularly affected and that Russian athletes had been prevented from representing their country internationally.
The Russian Athletics Federation official said they would continue defending their rights and would keep applying to the courts to have the sanctions lifted. Yarishevski said the federation was preparing its next steps and that efforts to restore justice would continue.
Restrictions imposed after the war
World Athletics imposed restrictions on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.
On July 9, the Russian Athletics Federation had also filed a separate appeal with CAS against the World Athletics Council’s decision to extend restrictions on Russian athletes.
Some international sports organizations, including the gymnastics, aquatics and boxing federations, have begun gradually easing restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Some Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutral athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
CAS hears international sports disputes
The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is the highest judicial authority in international sport. CAS hears disputes between athletes, clubs, federations and international sports organizations.
