Russia could be stripped of two IAAF events as part of sanctions for its doping scandal, it has emerged. The country is expected to be provisionally suspended at meeting of the ruling council of athletics’ world governing body on Friday ahead of a formal disciplinary hearing.
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A provisional suspension would see Russia excluded from international competition, and the suspension would have to be confirmed by a disciplinary panel which could see the country banned until it can prove its anti-doping programme is working properly.
The country could also lose two IAAF events next year: the world junior championships in Kazan in July and the world race walking team championships planned for Cheboksary in May.
It follows a report by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission which detailed “state-sponsored” doping in Russia with senior figures taking bribes to cover up tests.
It is understood that IAAF president Lord Coe wants to have the disciplinary process completed within a month. He will chair the council meeting on Friday.
Coe has insisted he will not fail in his task to clean up athletics. He said: “I won’t fail, but I also accept that this is a huge journey. I have to do this without fear or favour, and I fully accept that I may not even be around when the full fruits of what I need to do are probably going to be recognised.”
Seb Coe now talking about suspending Russia: is two u-turns on same subject in 11-month period a record?
— David Walsh (@DavidWalshST) November 9, 2015
He said he launched a review the day after he won the IAAF presidency and he is speeding it up in the face of this week’s report. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach backed Coe to clean up the sport of athletics.
“Now we have this enquiry about athletics, the international federation will draw its conclusion and will take the necessary measures,” Bach said. “We’re convinced that the president, Sebastian Coe, will do whatever is necessary.
“I think also Russia will co-operate to make progress and to be sure that Russian athletics are compliant with WADA. This is what it needs to be in order to participate in the Olympic Games.”
Meanwhile, Russia says a “foreign specialist” could take over as chief of its anti-doping watchdog. The first casualty in the wake of the scandal was the head of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, who resigned after his laboratory was suspended over the allegations.
“We are absolutely open and ready as a result of consultations with WADA to appoint even a foreign specialist to lead the laboratory if it is necessary,” Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said.
