#1 | Headline of 2015

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Russia Gets Provisional Suspension, Effectively Banned From Rio Olympics

The story that made the biggest headlines in 2015 was the IAAFÂ’s suspension of the Russian federation from all international competition. The news of the IAAFÂ’s decision broke in mid-November, but the investigation into the Russian federation has been a long process spanning multiple years.

Suspicion began to rise when a German documentary was released in 2014, which accused the IAAF of ignoring the systemic use of performance enhancing drugs within several national federations, notably Russia. The World Anti-Doping Agency conducted their own investigation on the issue and returned in the fall of 2015 with a 323-page report titled “The Independent Commission Report #1.” The report revealed “state-sponsored” systemic doping practices in Russia.

Based on their findings, WADA recommended that the IAAF suspend Russia from all international track and field competition.

The IAAF responded with a council vote that overwhelmingly voted to provisionally suspend the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) from all international competition, effectively banning them from the 2016 Rio Olympics and the World Athletic Series.

“The message could not be stronger. This is a wake-up call,” IAAF President Sebastian Coe said following the meeting.

“It is entirely up to Russia to make the changes,” Coe added.

The IAAF stated in the meeting that unless the ARAF accepts the full suspension, the IAAF is entitled to proceed to a full hearing on whether the provisional suspension should be made a full suspension. And in order for ARAF to regain entry into the IAAF, the federation would have to meet a list of criteria that meets an IAAF inspection.

The ARAF has since accepted the recommendation for a full suspension and noted that the federation would cooperate with the IAAF’s inspection. Mikhail Butov, the ARAF General Secretary wrote to the IAAF that he hoped for “a positive result after certain time and full come back to the IAAF family,” and that they are “working very hard now in Russia to change a lot.”

Since ARAF has accepted the provisional suspension, the federation is now underway with an inspection with the hope of regaining entry into the IAAF and competing at the Rio Olympics.