“This is discrimination”: how the introduction of a monetary contribution to obtain neutral status quarreled Lasickens with the VFLA

“It is worth stopping the selection of the“ chosen ones ”

Three-time world champion Maria Lasitskene called discrimination and incitement of hostility the VFLA’s decision to compensate for the neutral status levy set by the International Athletics Federation (World Athletics) only to those athletes who get into the top 3 at international competitions.

“Such divisions into“ worthy ”and“ unworthy ”athletes are discrimination and incitement by the federation of hostility between athletes. If the VFLA is unable to pay for all applications, it is worth stopping the selection of the “chosen ones”. Let me remind you once again that the current problems with a neutral status and a debt of $ 5 million arose “thanks to” the federation, ”wrote Lasickene in the“ story ”of her account on Instagram.

The compensation decision was made on June 2 by the bureau of the VFLA Presidium. The text of the meeting was published on the official website of the federation on Thursday.

It says that the head of the federation, Yevgeny Yurchenko, after a video conference with a commission of athletes, went to the Bureau of the Presidium with a proposal to compensate athletes for the costs of obtaining a neutral status. We are talking about a contribution to World Athletics in the amount of $ 250 for athletes over 20 years of age.

As a result, the Bureau of the Presidium approved the offer of the functionary, but with reservations, which remained dissatisfied with Lasicki.

“It was decided that all Russian athletes who will receive a neutral status in 2020 and will win prizes in international competitions, VFLA will compensate for the cost of paying the fee,” the text says.

In addition, other important topics were raised at the meeting. In particular, the federation may revoke the licenses of five coaches who worked with athletes suspended for anti-doping rule violation.

“VFLA will send these trainers a request for an explanation regarding this situation. At the next meeting of the Bureau of the Presidium, the issue of recalling coaching licenses from specialists will be considered. They will be invited to attend the meeting, ”the Bureau of the Presidium decided.

But for two specialists whose licenses had previously been revoked, the opposite decision was made. Their complaints will be considered at the next presidency of the VFLA, which will put an end to this issue. At the same time, the names of the trainers are not called.

“This step is unlikely to help VFLA regain the confidence of its athletes”

The information that the athletes from Russia, applying for a neutral status, will have to pay special fees, appeared in mid-May. The new World Athletics regulation on providing neutral status for 2020 and recommendations for it were announced by the VFLA in mid-May.

We are talking about a sum of $ 250 for athletes over 20 years of age and a contribution of $ 100 - for athletes from 18 to 20 years. Previously, Russians did not have to pay to provide neutral status.

Athletes are also required to submit letters to the World Athletics from VFLA and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).

The introduction of a cash contribution was an unpleasant surprise for the VFLA. This measure has puzzled the head of the Federation, Yurchenko.   

“The question is the money collection that the World Athletics Association has appointed this year for considering applications. In my opinion, this is not entirely appropriate, but it is their right, ”the TASS functionary quotes.

Yurchenko also admitted that the Russian side is not satisfied with the introduction of a limit of ten domestic athletes to participate in major international competitions.

“Another thing is that the limit concerns large official starts, of which this year only the half-marathon world championship in Poland remains. But in any case, within the framework of the created restoration commission, we are working now to ensure that the issue of limits and neutral statuses with regard to Russian athletes is removed from the track and field agenda of 2021, ”Yurchenko added.

At the same time, the All-Russian Athletics Federation, which was obliged to pay a fine of $ 5 million in World Athletics by July 1, was not going to compensate the athletes for the fees. A member of the VFLA athletes commission, Andrei Minzhulin, emphasized that the federation simply does not have the means to do so, since it is experiencing serious financial difficulties.

“This year, there were practically no international tournaments at the level of European and world championships, where Russian athletes need neutral status to participate. In the calendar there are, by and large, commercial starts, which athletes go to first of all to earn money. In this situation of the federation, which is waiting for serious financial expenses, it would not be entirely logical to assume the payment of fees for registration of statuses to athletes, ”noted Minzhulin.

A fine of $ 10 million was imposed after the high-jumper scandal Danil Lysenko, to whom, as reported, the former leadership of the VFLA was involved. The first part of the fine - $ 5 million - must be transferred before July 1, and the remaining $ 5 million will be in a “suspended" state. VFLA will be required to pay this amount if it violates anti-doping rules again.

Lasickene agreed with Minzhulin that the athletes should pay for themselves, but recalled that all the problems arose initially from the illegal actions of the federation itself.

“In the current situation, there is one caveat. Athletes began to have problems with neutral status due to the actions of the VFLA leadership, so the decision of the federation to step aside and throw off the payment of the contribution for athletes is incorrect. This step is unlikely to help the APFLA regain the confidence of its athletes, ”said Lasickene.

Meanwhile, Russian athletes have already begun to draw up the paper necessary to obtain a neutral status. Lasitskene herself sent one of the first applications to World Athletics on May 14th.

According to RUSADA Deputy General Director Margarita Pakhnotskaya, more than 60 people have already applied to the organization for a letter of neutral status.

“In the first two days in June, we sent official letters to 59 athletes who want a neutral status. Considering May, only 62 people received such letters from us. Applications continue to come, and we, in turn, continue to prepare the necessary documents for athletes, ”Pakhnotskaya noted.