Russia announce they will not be appealing IAAF suspension
Last Updated: 26/11/15 3:29pm
Russia have announced they will not appeal the IAAF decision to suspend the country from international competition.
The All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF) have chosen not to contest the sanction and agreed to comply fully with an international inspection team.
ARAF had been provisionally suspended in the aftermath of a World Anti-Doping Agency commission report alleging systematic doping and cover-ups over many years.
An IAAF statement read: "The IAAF council was today [Thursday] informed that written confirmation had been received yesterday from ARAF accepting their full suspension without requesting a hearing as was their constitutional right.
"ARAF confirmed they understood that council would only accept their reinstatement as an IAAF member following the recommendation of the IAAF inspection team who will decide if the verification criteria have been fulfilled. ARAF confirmed they will cooperate fully and actively with the team."
Independent anti-doping expert Rune Andersen will lead the inspection team that will also include four-time Olympic silver medallist Frankie Fredericks; IAAF council members Abby Hoffman, Anna Riccardi and Geoff Gardner make up the five-member panel.
Russia has already lost hosting rights to next year's Race Walking World Cup and the World Junior Championships, due to take place in Cheboksary and Kazan respectively.
It will also be suspended for the World Indoor Championships in March, but is desperate for its athletes to be allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics next summer.
