Russian athletics federation withdraws appeal against IAAF ban over doping
By Reuters
Last Updated: 25/01/19 5:16pm
Russia's athletics federation has withdrawn its appeal against the decision by the IAAF, the global athletics governing body, to prolong its suspension over evidence of state-sponsored doping.
The federation had filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in September against the IAAF's decision to extend the ban, imposed in November 2015.
The federation said its withdrawal of the appeal was linked to the decision this week by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) not to suspend RUSADA, Russia's anti-doping agency, despite Moscow missing a deadline to hand over laboratory data.
For the Russian athletics federation to be reinstated, the Athletics Integrity Unit must confirm it has been given access to data and samples from the former Moscow anti-doping laboratory. WADA said this month it had retrieved the laboratory data.
The federation must also cover legal costs and the cost of IAAF investigations before the ban can be lifted.
The Russian athletics federation president Dmitry Shlyakhtin said: "I'm convinced that at this time we must concentrate our efforts on negotiations and communication with IAAF regarding the reinstatement of the Russian athletics federation, and not waste time and effort on judicial processes."
The Court of Arbitration for Sport and the IAAF did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Although the federation remains suspended, several Russian athletes, including 2015 world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov, have been cleared to compete internationally as neutrals after demonstrating they are training in doping-free environments.
The IAAF's next council meeting is set to take place on March 10-11 in Doha, Qatar.
