It is getting down to the wire for the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF). The chaos and turmoil continues for the disgraced country.
The World Athletics Council announced that they will expel the RusAF from membership with World Athletics if they fail to make a $5 million (USD) fine as well as another $1.31 million in expenses before August 15, 2020.
The Council met by teleconference due to the pandemic and subsequently agreed to follow the recommendations of the Taskforce, delivered by chairperson Rune Andersen.
Anderson said the Taskforce spent “an enormous amount of time and effort trying to help RusAF reform itself and Russian athletics, for the benefit of all clean Russian athletes” but the response from RusAF had been inadequate.
Russian whistleblower Vitaly Stepanov, a former Russian Anti-Doping Agency staff member told Athletics Illustrated that corruption is a way of life in Russia. He said with tongue firmly planted in cheek, “Russia does not have corruption, it is often said “we have a mutual understanding.”
Meaning of course that corruption is systemic.
According to the council, the decision will come into effect immediately and automatically if RusAF does not meet the following conditions:
- Payment in full of the two outstanding RusAF invoices to be received on or before close of business in Monaco on 15 August 2020.
- The RusAF Reinstatement Commission to provide the draft plan referenced in the third paragraph of Council’s decision of 12 March 2020 – of suitable scope and depth, with an implementation plan and progress indicators – to the Taskforce on or before 31 August 2020.
- Any changes required by the Taskforce to the draft plan to be incorporated to the Taskforce’s satisfaction on or before 30 September 2020.
- The plan to be brought into effect and satisfactory progress achieved against the plan (as determined by the Taskforce, based on the input of the international experts appointed by World Athletics), as reported by the Taskforce to Council at each of its subsequent meetings.
