On July 9, 2026, the Russian Athletics Federation announced it had lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the World Athletics Council's decision to extend the suspension of Russian athletes from international competitions. This decision, reaffirmed on July 3, 2026, continues to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes four years after sanctions were first imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement, Russian Athletics described the ban as discriminatory and confirmed it had engaged specialist lawyers to challenge the ruling at CAS. Despite the International Olympic Committee's provisional lifting of the suspension on the Russian Olympic Committee earlier that week—a move seen as a step toward Russia's reintegration into the Olympic community—Russian track-and-field athletes remain excluded from international events.
Previously, Russian athletes competed as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
Sources: CNA Latest News
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