Paris (AFP)
The International Athletics Federation said Wednesday that it would give the Russian federation one last chance to admit its wrongs in the Lysenko case, in order to avoid a possible exclusion recommended earlier today by the Integrity Unit athletics (IAU).
"IAU accusations against Rusaf (Russian Federation) for anti-doping rule violation are very serious. World athletics (ex-IAAF) will analyze the documents transmitted by the IAU these days", writes World athletics in a press release.
While the country has been suspended since November 2015 for a vast scandal of institutional doping, the IAU recommended Wednesday the exclusion of Russia from the International Federation following the "Lysenko affair", in which the Rusaf allegedly obstructed an anti-doping investigation targeting Russian high jumper Danil Lysenko.
"If the Rusaf continues to deny the accusations, it will be up to the Arbitral Tribunal for Sport (TAS) to arbitrate the dispute. If the accusations are confirmed, the file will return to the table of the Council of World athletics which will take sanctions", which may so go to the exclusion of Russia.
The International Federation announces, however, that it will extend its last hand to the Russian sports authorities from a letter sent to the new Minister of Sports Oleg Matytsin, appointed last week, and to the Rusaf.
If the authorities recognize the facts, the Council will take milder sanctions "not going as far as exclusion", will propose to revive a system, currently frozen, allowing Russian athletes to compete internationally under neutral banner , and will propose "a new process for the reintegration of Russian athletics".
© 2020 AFP