World Athletics restored VFLA status after 7.5 years, but Russians still won’t be able to compete in international competitions

The World Athletics Association (World Athletics) has restored the rights of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA), but Russian athletes will still not be able to participate in international tournaments, said Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics.

“The World Athletics Council has decided to reinstate ARAF, but athletes, staff and coaches are still suspended due to the situation in Ukraine in the near future,” Coe told a conference. press.

ARAF’s membership of World Athletics was suspended in November 2015 amid a large-scale doping scandal, Russian athletes were only allowed to compete internationally after being granted neutral status . In November 2022, Coe said the organization’s task force recommends reinstatement of ARAF status in March 2023.

In early March last year, World Athletics banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions due to the situation in Ukraine.