For the first time in a long time, long-awaited progress has been outlined in the situation around Russian athletics.
The Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) decided to resume the issuance of neutral statuses to domestic athletes.
10 people will be admitted to the biggest competitions of 2021, including the Olympic Games, the World Championships in track and field relay races and the European Youth Championship, without the right to substitute.
At the same time, the international association reserved the right to stop issuing neutral statuses in the event that any of the admitted athletes violates anti-doping rules, or the Russian side does not follow the provided recovery plan.
Despite the restrictions, the decision of World Athletics was positively received in Russia.
At the same time, many stressed that this step is not a reason to stop working on improving the organization's reputation.
“Despite the fact that a lot has already been done, all the main work lies ahead for the federation.
Yes, today a very important decision was made; in no case should one calm down.
Full restoration of ARAF in international rights will be possible only in case of full implementation of the adopted strategic plan, "- quotes an independent expert World Athletics Margarita Pakhnotskaya TASS.
Acting President of ARAF Irina Privalova admitted that the decision of World Athletics did not come as a surprise to her.
She thanked the restoration commission, as well as the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) for the work done.
“Of course, the choice of 10 athletes to participate in the Olympic Games and the European Youth Championship will be very difficult for us, but it is still a big step forward, and we must understand this.
We have no room for error, we need to accurately and systematically implement the recovery plan, ”Privalova said.
In turn, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin called admission to international starts an important step towards the restoration of the federation's membership.
“I am confident that ARAF will continue to follow the main course - the formation of a culture of zero tolerance for doping in Russian athletics.
Then we all together will be able to achieve our key goal - so that Russia fully returns to the world athletics family, and our athletes can compete in international competitions without restrictions, ”the press service of the Ministry of Sports quoted Matytsin as saying.
ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov noted that the decision gives cause for optimism.
“Obviously, there is still a lot to be done for the return of ARAF to the international athletics community as part of the implementation of the roadmap and recovery plan, but the dynamics at the moment is positive, which gives rise to some optimism.
Our absolute priority - both ROC and ARAF - is to consistently defend the interests of athletes, to protect their rights, ”Pozdnyakov stressed.
The success of ARAF was also noted in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
According to Dmitry Svishchev, member of the committee for physical culture, sports, tourism and youth affairs, the previous leadership of the organization, headed by Peter Ivanov, played an important role here.
In February of this year, he was forced to temporarily leave his post in connection with the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (CAS).
“We will be glad for the athletes who will be admitted to the Games, although the infringement of our team is felt in everything.
At the Olympics, it has always numbered dozens of athletes, now for some reason someone restricts us ... Without a dialogue with the world federation, nothing will work.
We need to talk, move forward and shoot problem after problem.
Well, to solve internal problems, of which we have a lot, "- added Svishchev.
But with the greatest enthusiasm the decision of World Athletics was taken by the athletes themselves, who last took part in international competitions more than a year ago.
So, high jumper Mikhail Akimenko admitted that it is difficult for him to describe the emotions that he experienced upon learning this news.
“We have been waiting for a very long time for the moment when we will be allowed to compete at international competitions, we were like hungry animals that were kept in a cage.
And when they are finally released, they immediately rush to look for prey.
Now I am like the beast who, having received freedom, intends to tear everyone up, ”Akimenko reacted.
At the same time, it is not known who will be among the 10 athletes who will represent Russia at the largest competitions.
The manager of the 2015 hurdling world champion Sergei Shubenkov, Pavel Voronkov, said that this issue will be discussed with the Independent Body to Combat Negative Phenomena in Athletics (AIU).
They have not received any instructions from World Athletics at this time, he said.
“I believe that Shubenkov has the right to do this.
But in order to confidently assert this, you need to see how the situation will develop.
I think the pitch will again be on an individual basis, as it has always been.
From World Athletics they sent a specific form, it was filled in by each athlete independently, a letter of support from ARAF was attached, and sent to World Athletics ... But the decision is not made by us and not even by our federation, so let's wait a bit, "RIA Novosti quotes Voronkov.
ARAF lost its international status in 2015.
At the end of 2019, it was decided to suspend the issuance of neutral statuses to Russian athletes in connection with the scandal that broke out around the high jumper Danil Lysenko and the involvement of the leadership of the Russian organization in him.
On March 1 of this year, a new plan for the restoration of ARAF was approved, in the development of which international experts took part.
World Athletics stressed that the future of the federation, as well as the admission of athletes to international tournaments in 2022, will depend on strict adherence to the roadmap.