The Russian Athletics Federation (Rusaf) did not pay a fine imposed by the international federation (World Athletics) for violating anti-doping rules on time, a new violation which jeopardizes the participation of Russian athletes in the next Olympic Games. "Unfortunately, this money was not found," Rusaf president Yevgeny Yurtchenko, quoted by the TASS public agency, said on Wednesday, adding that "negotiations" with the international athletics federation were continuing.
A five million dollar fine
The Rusaf had until July 1 to pay the fine of five million dollars (4.46 million euros) imposed in March by World Athletics. In the event of non-payment within the time limits, its quota of ten Russian athletes authorized to participate in the Tokyo Games in 2021 under neutral banner is theoretically suspended.
Mentioning a "lack of financial resources", Yevgeny Yurtchenko said he hoped for "common sense on the part of World Athletics", particularly given the "coronavirus" and "the difficult economic situation in the world". "I want to clarify that the amount requested is much higher than that which is brandished in the media," he continued, without however mentioning another amount, according to TASS.
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Russian sportsmen appeal to Vladimir Putin
Quoted by Russian agencies, Russian Minister of Sports Oleg Matytsin announced on Wednesday that his ministry had sent a letter to World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee asking that "sanctions against the federation should not affect the activity of our sportsmen ". Last week, the stars of Russian athletics, Maria Lasitskene, Sergey Shubenkov and Anzhelika Sidorova, challenged President Vladimir Putin on the "catastrophic situation" of their sport, calling on him to act so as not to be deprived of the Olympic Games. Tokyo.
World Athletics froze in November 2019 the process allowing handpicked athletes to participate in competitions outside Russia, Rusaf accused of helping 2017 vice height world champion Danil Lysenko to escape punishment for breaches of his localization obligations for unexpected doping controls. The body also froze the reintegration process of Russia, suspended since November 2015 for having established an institutional doping system.