Russia launches new challenge to World Athletics sanctions

The global body for track and field announced in July it was keeping in place a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes that was imposed in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian federation, Russian Athletics, claims the sanctions are "selective and politicised".

"The current restrictions infringe on the organisation's rights and prevent it from fully representing the interests of Russian athletes on an international level," it added in a statement.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The stance of World Athletics, headed by Briton Sebastian Coe, is in contrast to the federations of other Olympic sports - World Gymnastics and the International Skating Union, for example, have eased restrictions on Russian competitors.

"The sanctions against Russian Athletics are unprecedented. No other sports federation faces such severe restrictions," Boris Yaryshevskiy, Chief Executive Director of Russian Athletics, said.

"They not only hinder the federation's normal operation but also hold back the development of athletics in Russia, particularly among young athletes, preventing us from properly representing our sport in the international arena.

"That is why we will consistently defend our rights, pursue the lifting of the sanctions through the courts, and continue our work in this direction. We are already preparing our next steps to restore justice."

World Athletics said it would be "strenuously defending" its stance.

"As we have said before in reference to the Russian Athletics Federation's request for arbitration to CAS, we will be strenuously defending our position," said World Athletics in a statement to AFP.