MOSCOW, April 8, Andrey Simonenko.The All-Russian Federation of Athletics (ARAF) has not filed an appeal with the World Athletics Association (World Athletics) regarding the removal of Russian athletes from international starts even in neutral status, as work is underway to restore full membership in the international organization, said Irina Privalova, Acting President of the ARAF .VFLA has been deprived of full membership in World Athletics (formerly IAAF) since 2015 due to doping scandals, during this time Russian athletes could only compete in international competitions in a neutral status. In early March, against the backdrop of events in Ukraine, World Athletics, like a number of other international federations, suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international tournaments in any status. On Friday, the arbitration court of the International Luge Federation (FIL) granted the appeal of the Russian Luge Federation ( FSSR) and canceled the decision of the executive committee on the temporary suspension of Russian athletes, coaches, specialists and judges from participation in competitions under the auspices of the FIL, as well as on the ban on international events in Russia. Olympic high jump champion Maria Lasitskene criticized the VFLA, saying that the organization has done nothing to protect the rights of athletes. its own way,» Privalova said, answering in the negative to a question about the possibility of filing a similar appeal. «A team of international experts is working on the restoration of the ARAF, fruitful work is underway. The World Athletics working group does not interfere with politics. One could even say that our situation is better than other federations.» «The current suspension from performances, even in a neutral status, is a political situation, all sports are in it. We must wait for something to change,» Privalova added.
