"The situation is encouraging": World Athletics has increased the number of participants in the largest competitions from Russia

Domestic athletics in recent years rarely pleases with positive news.

The results of the meeting of the 226th Council of the World Athletics Association, which took place on Tuesday-Wednesday, were a long-awaited exception in this regard.

The event brought together, among other things, the World Athletics working group on the ARAF recovery, which made a key decision.

Next year, twice as many neutral athletes (ANA) will be admitted to major international competitions - from ten to 20. This directly concerns the Russians, who are forced to compete under the appropriate status.

The conditions apply to the six major tournaments: World Championships, European Championships, Indoor Worlds, Team Walking Worlds, Half Marathon Worlds and European Cross Country Championships.

We are talking about the total number of athletes, not for each individual start.

“The situation inspires optimism on the part of the working group and international experts, the work of the Russian side is visible, based on the steady progress that the All-Russian Athletics Federation has. Major milestones have been met. Progress should continue in Russia, and, taking into account it, there is a recommendation to increase the quota of neutral athletes for the main competitions in 2022 to 20 athletes, "TASS quotes the words of the head of the working group on the restoration of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) Rune Andersen.

ARAF will independently compile a list of 20 athletes who have received ANA status, but priority should be given to people who are in the internationally registered testing pool.

Changes to the composition after its publication cannot be made.

Also, the quota can be automatically reduced by 25% for each failure to meet ANA requirements.

A little later, Andersen's report was published on the official website of ARAF, which mainly contained praise for the Russian colleagues.

In particular, the functionary stressed that he regularly contacts with acting.

the head of the federation, Irina Privalova, and also receives weekly reports from international experts.

“The working group expresses low-key optimism.

ARAF is steadily moving towards meeting the conditions set for its restoration as a member of the World Athletics Association: to date, the milestones, as well as various KPIs set out in the recovery plan, have been completed, ”Andersen emphasized.

He separately noted that ARAF timely pays off all financial expenses that World Athletics incurs while working on the restoration of membership of the national federation.

“In July, ARAF was issued an invoice in the amount of $ 488,209. ARAF paid it in full.

In October - in the amount of $ 325,962.05 ... Payment of this bill is expected in the near future, ”the functionary reported.

An important topic raised within the framework of the group meeting was the meeting between Oleg Matytsin and the head of World Athletics Sebastian Coe.

According to Andersen, the initiative came from the Minister of Sports, and at the moment the parties are "trying to find a mutually convenient date."

There was also a place for criticism in the report.

For example, the head of the working group expressed concern about RUSADA's work.

He recalled that in order to restore the status, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency needs to fulfill a number of requirements by December 2022.

These include “liaising with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and obtaining additional testing data to enable the AIU to determine if any other athletes may have violated anti-doping rules.”

World Athletics complained about difficulties in providing this information.

“The main problems with RUSADA remain.

Therefore, the working group will consider whether the council should be encouraged to introduce additional recovery conditions for ARAF to address these issues.

I will report on this at the next council meeting, ”Andersen promised.

The working group also had questions about the activities of the federation itself.

In particular, they expressed concern that out of 99 domestic athletes who were presented with ANA status, subject to passing 1-2 out-of-competition doping tests, five went to the start "without fulfilling this condition."

Also, World Athletics announced five Russian coaches who have worked with several athletes who have violated anti-doping rules.

“ARAF is obliged to ensure proper investigation of this issue and to keep AIU informed,” Andersen emphasized.

Acting President of the Federation Irina Privalova called the decision of the World Athletics Council encouraging and separately spoke out on the points that contained criticism.

She urged specialists and athletes to pay attention to them.

“It points to violations of some athletes and coaches who, by their actions, endanger the restoration of ARAF.

We will in every possible way suppress such actions, strictly adhering to the course in the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Roadmap.

I would like to thank the Russian Ministry of Sports, the Russian Olympic Committee and international experts for their support and assistance.

We still have a lot of work ahead, but I am sure we are moving in the right direction, ”the ARAF official website quotes Privalova's statement.

RUSADA also commented on the claims of World Athletics.

Acting Director General of the organization Mikhail Bukhanov promised to "pay attention to principle" to the wishes of the association.

“Investigations are carried out within the limits of authority and in constant interaction with international federations or the World Anti-Doping Agency, however, if in any aspect of this direction of RUSADA's anti-doping activities it is necessary to strengthen measures and methods, we always do this with the highest priority.

In the comments under consideration, we are talking about specific cases and persons, the proceedings in respect of which have not yet been completed, so I would rate the statements as wishes, to which we treat with principled attention, "R-Sport quotes Bukhanov as saying.

Domestic athletes were also optimistic about the verdict passed by the World Athletics Council.

Even high jumper Danil Lysenko, who is currently serving a suspension, spoke about what happened.

“

I am very happy for our athletes, I am very glad that at least someone has the opportunity to perform and show results at international competitions.

I hope it will all end soon and we will all be “released”, - said the athlete.

Recall that in mid-November, the World Athletics Congress extended the ARAF disqualification by a majority vote.

However, according to Coe, the organization has made satisfactory progress.

At the same time, Matytsin suggested that next year the federation would still be restored to its rights.

Thus, a significant relaxation for domestic athletes in the issue of participation in competitions, as well as information about an imminent meeting of the Minister of Sports with the head of the association can become steps towards the final solution of the issue.