IAAF says Russian athletics must cut ties with staff with doping history

The IAAF has sent the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) a list of strict terms it needs to meet for reinstatement following the ban over widespread doping and corruption in track and field.

The “terms of reference” were approved by the IAAF task force in consultation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“The conditions we have announced leave no room for doubt,” IAAF president, Sebastian Coe, said. “Russia must demonstrate verifiable change across a range of criteria and satisfy our task force that those criteria will be met permanently.”

Coe says that there is no timeline for Russia– it will be up to them to implement change both in anti-doping practice and the culture around it.

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The terms of reference demand that the Russian athletics federation comply with all WADA and IAAF anti-doping rules and requirements and that they allow the IAAF and Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) to carry out their respective anti-doping activities in Russia “effectively and without interference.”

The IAAF said that Russian athletics must “clean house” by showing that none of its directors, officers or staff have any past involvement in doping. They must sever ties with anyone who cannot meet this requirement and they must introduce a comprehensive code of ethics and reasonable term limits for all of its officials moving forward says the IAAF.

Russian athletes were suspended last month after a bombshell report published by a WADA independent commission found evidence of state-sponsored doping and large-scale corruption in Russian athletics.

Russia, whose anti-doping agency RUSADA and anti-doping laboratory were suspended over the report, has vowed to retrieve IAAF membership in time for its track and field athletes to compete at next year’s Olympic Games.

The IAAF task force will make a first visit to Russia in January.

With files from AFP.