World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has pledged to personally appear in court to defend the organization’s decision to maintain sanctions against Russia. The Russian athletics federation has filed a new challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that the restrictions are both “selective and politicised.”
The governing body for track and field confirmed in July that it is upholding the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, which was initially implemented in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. In its legal challenge, the Russian federation stated that the current measures “infringe on the organisation’s rights and prevent it from fully representing the interests of Russian athletes on an international level.”
This firm stance from World Athletics stands in contrast to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has signaled that Russian athletes may participate in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. IOC president Kirsty Coventry noted the goal is to ensure athletes are not held responsible for their government’s actions.
Other international sports bodies, including World Gymnastics and the International Skating Union, have already moved to ease restrictions on Russian competitors. However, speaking on the sidelines of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, Coe remained steadfast in his support of the current policy.
“I will be in the court of arbitration defending that position. That’s how I feel about it,” Coe told reporters. He emphasized that the primary role of an international federation is to determine eligibility within its own sport, a concept he noted has been upheld by the court in previous legal battles.
Addressing concerns regarding the motivation behind the ban, Coe insisted that the decision is not political. “This is not about politics or passports. This is about the integrity of competition, and that is the position that we will be defending,” he stated, adding that the organization will continue to act in the best interests of the sport.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has drawn sharp criticism from officials regarding the IOC’s path toward Russian inclusion, with Ukraine labeling the move as “premature” and “unfounded.” While the war enters its fifth year, World Athletics has maintained a dedicated support fund for Ukrainian athletes established in 2022, acknowledging that the ability of those athletes to train and compete remains severely compromised.
Looking toward the future, Coe has indicated that if a formal peace agreement is reached, sport should not serve as an obstacle to the return of Russian competitors. Nevertheless, he admitted that his personal perspective has been shaped by his visits to Ukraine.
Reflecting on his experiences in the region, Coe told reporters last year that the situation is not one where he can remain neutral. He remains committed to defending the current policy until circumstances change, maintaining that the integrity of the sport remains the priority for World Athletics.
The stance of World Athletics, headed by Britain’s two-time Olympic 1,500m gold medallist Coe, is in contrast to the federations of other Olympic sports.
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