Russian Athletics Recognizes Doping Woes

Newly elected President of Russia's Athletics Federation (ARAF), regional sports bureaucrat Dmitry Shlyakhtin, attends a press conference at Russia's Olympic committee in Moscow on January 16, 2016. Russia's embattled athletics body on January 16 elected a new "anti-crisis" president, regional sports bureaucrat Dmitry Shlyakhtin, who now faces the challenge of rescuing its reputation from doping claims ahead of the Rio Olympics. / AFP / VASILY MAXIMOV AFP (Photo credit should read VASILY MAXIMOV AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

(ATR) The International Association of Athletics Federations welcomes Russian Athletics Federation president Dmitry Shlyakhtin’s "candid" acknowledgement of the country’s doping issues during its Congress in London.

"I think the whole Congress, and I know the Council, was pleased to recognize that the Russian Federation recognized themselves that they have been through some pretty torrid times," IAAF president Sebastian Coe said at a press conference preceding the opening of the IAAF World Championships.

"They are doing everything they possibly can to make sure the federation itself is re-engineered. They are attempting the hard yards of changing the culture of coaching systems and endemic systems that have served very badly their athletes."

The Russian athletics chief presented his country’s case for reinstatement to the National Federations ahead of a vote that did not turn out in Russia’s favor. Only 21 National Federations voted against the recommendation from the IAAF Council and independent taskforce chairman Rune Andersen that the Russia suspension be extended.

Instead, RusAF recognized that more work needs to be done before reinstatement and accepted the conditions outlined by the IAAF. Coe says the federation will strive to "normalize the situation" in the coming months.

He also acknowledged that the overall goal of the Russian suspension is beginning to pay dividends.

"The guiding principle has always been we wanted to separate the clean athletes from the tainted system and we have 19 neutral athletes here [at the championships]. And that’s been the case throughout the year."

Although Coe and the IAAF Council members will hold a joint executive meeting the International Olympic Committee on Aug. 4 before the start of the championships, Coe says the issue of Russia’s reinstatement is not currently on the agenda.

"If raised we will clearly identify the position, but I know that the IOC knows where we stand on this," Coe said.

The London 2017 World Championships run from Aug. 4-13 at the Olympic Stadium used in the London 2012 Summer Games.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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