IAAF Taskforce report to Council, 8 June 2019 / Rune Andersen. - International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). - Monaco : IAAF, 2019
The IAAF Council announced that there had been no change in status of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF).
Reporting to the IAAF Council at its meeting in Monaco, Rune Andersen, the independent chairman of the IAAF Taskforce, said that while some progress has been made, key issues remain outstanding that prevent reinstatement of RusAF.
One criteria has been met, Andersen reported: payment by (RusAF) of all expenses incurred during the Russian crisis, which has totaled US$3.2 million to date. A second criteria, he added, is close to being met: receipt of the analytical data and any samples that the AIU needs from the Moscow lab in order to determine which athletes have a case to answer under the IAAF anti-doping rules.
"As soon as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) receives the data from WADA it will review to confirm it has everything it needs," Andersen said.
But Andersen said the task force noted recent allegations that RUSAF officials were involved in an attempt to cover up a doping offence by one of their athletes and that banned coaches and a banned doctor continue to work with athletes.
"That calls into question whether RUSAF is able to enforce doping bans, and whether all RUSAF athletes have embraced the change to a new anti-doping culture proclaimed by RUSAF, both of which are conditions for reinstatement. The AIU will be looking into this.
“The Task Force shares Council's frustration that progress in two areas is being undermined in apparent back-sliding in two other areas. [The Task Force] hopes the outstanding issues can be resolved soon. If and when they are, it will report that back at its Council meeting in Doha in September, if not before.”
