THE ALL-RUSSIA ATHLETIC Federation (ARAF) has accepted an indefinite suspension from competition imposed by the IAAF earlier this month.
Russia was temporarily banned over allegations of state-sponsored doping made in a report by an independent commission established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The IAAF last week set out the terms Russia must comply with in order to have the suspension lifted. Today, ARAF accepted the proposals and said it would not be launching an appeal against the punishment.
“IAAF council were today informed that written confirmation was received yesterday from ARAF accepting their full suspension without requesting a hearing,” an IAAF statement said.
“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 co-operate fully and actively with the team.”
A doping inspection process is expected to begin on 1 January, with the first report due back to the IAAF Council on 27 March. That rules Russian athletes out of the World Indoor Championships in Portland, to be held earlier in March, and they must now hope the issues are resolved in order to be cleared to compete in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which begin in August.
Measures laid out last week include identifying and sanctioning anyone involved in the doping scandal, with ARAF expected to establish an “effective operational anti-doping framework”.
The federation will also be required to make “structural and regulatory reforms” to deter future cases of doping, while implementing its own anti-doping testing programme.
Mignolet can look forward to pick the ball out of his net multiple times on his return from international duty
@D H: Liverpool will probably do what they always do, up their game against Utd, maybe even win, celebrate like they’ve won the title, and return to normal service.
It’s a must win for Klopp, a win and he’s pretty safe, a draw and he buys time, a loss and he’s in deep trouble….
But, but….he punches the air, pumps his chest and grits his teeth….surely that will keep him in the job no?
@Brian O’Loughlin: I do that too sometimes on a Saturday night……then she falls asleep……
It could but it won’t
The only thing he will see is lukaku scoring 3 times in a week!
@Ger: found Rooney’s little black book did he?
Form doesn’t even come into it when it comes to this game.
Cup final