Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 7 February 2017

IAAF freezing nationality switches, upholding Russia ban

MONACO (AP) — The IAAF de Janeiro Olympics while
is upholding its global ban running for Bahrain, which
on Russian athletes and also won marathon silver
freezing all nationality through Kenya-born Eunice
switches. Kirwa.
Following a council meet- The decision did not affect
ing in Monaco on Monday, 15 transfers already being
IAAF president Sebastian processed.
Coe said Russian athletics Council member Hamad
should not expect “full rein- Kalkaba Malboum com-
statement” before Novem- pared the situation to a
ber. The decision rules out “wholesale market for Af-
Russia competing at the rican talent open to the
world championships in Au- highest bidder.”
gust in London. “Our present rules are be-
IAAF task force chairman ing manipulated to the
Rune Andersen added that detriment of athletics’
although there have been credibility,” he said. “Lots of
“productive meetings” with the individual athletes con-
Russian officials, many con- cerned, many of whom are
ditions were yet to be met transferred at a young age,
for full reinstatement. do not understand that
In December, World Anti- they are forfeiting their na-
Doping Agency investiga- tionality. This must end and
tor Richard McLaren pub- a new way forward found
lished the second part of his which respects the ath-
damning report into state- letes’ rights and the sports’
sponsored doping, listing In this June 17, 2016 file photo, IAAF President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference dignity.”
after a meeting of the IAAF Council at the Grand Hotel in Vienna, Austria.
hundreds of failed drug Associated Press In other issues:
tests which were allegedly — Last year, the IAAF des-
covered up in Russia, in- Coe said. “Clean Russian details of drug use and the In a separate issue, the ignated five other coun-
cluding in disability sports. athletes have been badly swapping of tainted sam- IAAF said it was freezing all tries whose anti-doping
The Russian government let down by their national ples for clean ones. nationality switches in ath- programs were in a critical
and Russian athletics deny system. We must ensure Since February 2016, testing letics after complaints that condition: Ethiopia, Mo-
any state support for dop- they are protected and in Russia has been overseen a rising number of people rocco, Belarus, Kenya, and
ing. Andersen presented that those safeguards give by the United Kingdom An- were switching allegiance Ukraine. The IAAF says it
Russia’s “roadmap” for confidence to the rest of ti-Doping Agency because to countries where they has received presentations
compliance, and issued the world that there is a lev- its Russian counterpart was had no ties, and that some from Morocco and Ukraine
firm conditions. el playing field of competi- banned from handling were moving repeatedly. on their progress. Belarus,
The testing of Russian ath- tion when Russians return.” samples due to corruption Coe said middlemen were Ethiopia, and Kenya have
letes must take place with- At the council meeting in claims. touting lists of athletes to report again in three
out any further incidents. December, the IAAF task Last month, the IAAF pro- around various countries, months, and Ukraine will re-
Russian athletics must ex- force said Russia could not vided new guidelines for describing a form of trans- port on a monthly basis.
plain why in the past it has yet be reinstated because Russians hoping to com- fer market similar to soccer. — The IAAF council ap-
been unable to enforce of the lack of a functional pete in a neutral capacity. “I have spoken to many proved Coe’s proposal to
suspensions imposed on its drug-testing agency there, The IAAF said 35 Russians member federations who dispense with the formal
athletes and how it plans and a lack of acceptance have applied, sending in regularly receive a list of bidding process by which
to go about doing this in of the McLaren findings. forms listing their drug-test athletes that are out there the IAAF has traditionally
future. The IAAF also de- The IAAF suspended Russia history under newly relaxed and available for trade,” taken applications to host
manded an official Russian from all international com- IAAF rules which no longer he said. “This cannot be a international competitions.
response to McLaren’s find- petition in November 2015 insist on Russian athletes sustainable system.” Instead, the IAAF will “as-
ings from the sports ministry after the first part of the training outside their home Runners from Kenya and sess the strategic goals for
and the FSB, Russia’s fed- McLaren report alleged country. If the IAAF accepts Ethiopia were among those growing the sport in relation
eral security service. mass doping and cover- all of them, Russia will have who have often moved to each IAAF competition,
“Our priority is to return ups. Since then, senior Rus- close to a full team at the to represent other coun- targeting cities from coun-
clean athletes to competi- sian athletics officials have European indoor cham- tries. Kenya-born Ruth Je- tries and regions which will
tion but we must all have been banned, and more pionships in Serbia next bet won the 3,000-meter best assist the delivery of
confidence in the process,” WADA reports provided month, just without a flag. steeplechase at the Rio those aims.”q