MOSCOW, Mar 18, Andrey Simonenko. World Athletics Association (World Athletics) acts at least inconsistently, receiving money for the process of restoring the All-Russian Federation of Athletics (VFLA) and not allowing Russian athletes to compete, said Sergey Shubenkov, winner and medalist of the world championships in the 110-meter hurdles. On Thursday, the Diamond League general assembly against the backdrop of events in Ukraine did not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the stages of the series. Earlier, the World Athletics Council decided to exclude Russians and Belarusians from the number of participants in the World Athletics Series competitions, including this season's outdoor (Eugene, USA) and indoor (Belgrade) world championships. Since 2015, due to the suspension of the VFLA, Russian athletes can only compete in tournaments in a neutral status. «I have only one thought on this matter: World Athletics is now removing us from competitions, and the VFLA continues to take money for the restoration process. The question is — for What? If you don’t let us compete, then be consistent,” Shubenkov said. The athlete said that at the meeting of the ARAF athletes’ commission held on Thursday, the initiative of a number of athletes to apply on behalf of the ARAF to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding non-admission to starts was discussed. If the money is paid, then it is logical for us to demand some kind of guarantees in our favor, but my opinion is that while the active phase (of the events in Ukraine) is underway, it is premature to demand something. diplomacy with World Athletics itself, but so far we are not in the best position for this diplomacy, I think so,» Shubenkov concluded.
