The Russian Athletics Federation has initiated a new legal challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding sanctions imposed by World Athletics. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, athletes representing Russia and Belarus have been barred from international events.
Russian Athletics argues that these measures violate the organization’s rights and hinder its ability to represent Russian competitors on the global stage. Boris Yaryshevskiy, the federation’s chief executive, labeled the restrictions unprecedented and claimed they impede the growth of the sport within Russia. He stated that the organization intends to persist in its legal efforts to secure the removal of these bans.
This move follows a separate appeal submitted on July 9, which contested the World Athletics Council’s decision to extend the competition ban. While some bodies like World Aquatics and World Gymnastics have relaxed their rules, allowing for neutral athlete participation, the standoff between Russian Athletics and the global governing body continues as the federation seeks to reclaim its full standing.
