Russia accepts its suspension from world athletics

Russia has accepted its "full suspension" from world athletics over widespread doping, without even requesting a hearing, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said Thursday. The decision comes after a series of corruption and doping scandals that has seen global athletics crash into its darkest ever days.

Sebastian Coe took over as IAAF head in August. Reuters/Jason Lee

The decision is the most severe punishment ever meted out by the IAAF and was made formal at a meeting of the world body's governing council in Monaco.

Russia, which had previously denied any wrongdoing, vowed at the meeting to work with foreign inspectors so that it could be welcomed back into international competition. The country is anxious to be cleared to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

The IAAF had provisionally suspended Russia over what a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) report released this month said was "state-sponsored" doping in athletics. Vadim Zelichenok, All-Russia Athletics Federation’s interim president, said the federation had feared an even worse punishment if an appeal was made.

"We decided that it was better to correct the situation from the very start and as quickly as possible," the Russia's R-Sport news agency quoted him as saying. "We either agree and start correcting the deficiencies, which we have already started doing, or prolong the agony and wait until we get slammed even more seriously."

The IAAF has said Russia should take "immediate" sanctions against Russian athletes and coaches caught doping, a law in Russia to criminalise sports doping and a system so that athletes can "safely tip off" authorities about drug cheats. The world body also demanded a "robust, transparent and efficient anti-doping testing programme".

Wada's latest report accused Russian anti-doping agency Rusada of "routinely" violating international test standards and allowing athletes banned for doping to compete. It also accused Russian athletics chiefs of corruption and French police are now investigating former IAAF president Lamine Diack over accusations that he took bribes from Russian officials to cover up doping cases.

Russia has already been stripped of the World Junior Championships (19-26 July in Kazan) and the World Race Walking Team Championships (7-8 May in Cheboksary). Their athletes are now unlikely to compete in the World Indoor Championships in Portland in March.

This scandal pushed IAAF President Sebastian Coe to step down from his lucrative ambassadorial role for Nike over what some people dubbed a conflict of interest, notably over the award of the 2021 world championships to Eugene, located in Oregon, the state where the giant US sportswear company has its headquarters.

At a press conference in Monaco, Coe vowed on Thursday to guide the IAAF "back to trust" after a series of corruption and doping scandals that has seen global athletics crash into its darkest ever days.