Track officials issue requirements for lifting ban on Russian athletes

The international track federation has issued a set of requirements that Russia must satisfy to lift the international ban on its track and field athletes.

The Russians have been barred from competition since last month, when anti-doping authorities published allegations of widespread cheating within their track federation.

The clock is ticking as the 2016 Summer Olympics approach.

“The conditions we have announced leave no room for doubt,” IAAF President Sebastian Coe said. “Russia must demonstrate verifiable change across a range of criteria and satisfy our task force that those criteria will be met permanently.”

Among other things, the Russians must prove they are complying with World Anti-Doping Agency policies and “clean house,” eliminating all officials, coaches and team doctors found to have participated in the cheating scheme.

IAAF officials also want all pending disciplinary cases to be resolved and all further cases openly investigated.

It remains to be seen if the ban will be lifted in time for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

“There is no time line for Russia,” Coe said. “It is up to them to implement verifiable change both in anti-doping practice and culture.”

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