Russian athletes remain banned from international competitions, including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, following the 204th IAAF Council Meeting on Friday in Vienna, Austria.
At the meeting attended by 25 members of the 27-strong Council and chaired by IAAF President Sebastian Coe, the athletics chiefs decided not to lift the suspension placed on Russia.
But the IAAF decision also gave a proviso, which is that individual athletes can compete as neutrals if they prove they are clean.
This session of Council was an extraordinary meeting held principally to give the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) a further opportunity to satisfy the Reinstatement Conditions for IAAF Membership.
This was ahead of the forthcoming European Championships in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
The task force in charge of the conditions made four recommendations, which were unanimously accepted by the IAAF Council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ban was imposed in November following accusations of state-sponsored doping.
This was after an independent report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which depicted a culture of widespread doping, with even the Secret Services involved.
Meanwhile, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has said she would challenge IAAF’s decision in court, claiming it was “a human rights violation”.
Isinbayeva, 34, who won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008, added: “I’m disappointed and angry. I am offended. Nobody defended us.
“Nobody fought for our rights and there are huge concerns over the IAAF itself and its stance on defending the rights of clean athletes.
“We are blamed for something we have not done. I will not remain silent, I will take measures. I will appeal to the human rights court.”
In a statement, Russia’s Ministry of Sports also said it was “extremely disappointed’’ by the IAAF decision.
“Clean athletes’ dreams are being destroyed because of the reprehensible behaviour of other athletes and officials.
“They have sacrificed years of their lives striving to compete at the Olympics and now that sacrifice looks likely to be wasted.
“We have done everything possible since the ban was first imposed to regain the trust of the international community.
“We have rebuilt our anti-doping institutions which are being led by respected international experts.
“Our athletes are being tested by UK’s anti-doping agency (UKAD) and every one of them is undergoing a minimum of three tests in addition to the usual requirements.
“We have nothing to hide and feel we had met the IAAF’s conditions for re-entry.’’
Russia also said it was being unfairly victimised, claiming other countries have fallen foul of the WADA code, such as Kenya and Ethiopia, but were free to compete.
IAAF president Coe however said “no politics’’ were involved in the decision over Russia’s ban.
He emphasised the unanimous nature of the verdict and the international range of council members.
The U.S. track and field team said it supported Russia’s continued suspension “to ensure clean and fair competition for all athletes’’.
“It is the only proper course of action, given the compelling and powerful evidence presented to Council.
“We do not believe that every Russian athlete cheated, and it is unfortunate and regrettable that some may pay a penalty for the serious transgressions of their federation.’’
NAN reports that following the ban a task force was set up by the International Association of Athletics Federations to oversee how Russia was complying with the IAAF demands.
A summary of the task force report states that Russia must show a culture of zero tolerance towards doping in athletics.
Although significant progress has been made to meet the IAAF’s criteria, work still remains.
These are in the area of deep-seated culture of tolerance for doping, which appears not to have changed.
According to the report, the head coach of the athletics team and athlete appear unwilling to acknowledge the extent of the doping problem.
However, the report does state that if individual athletes can convincingly show they are not tainted by the system, they will be allowed to compete in international competition.
But this will not be for Russia but as a neutral athlete.
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has since said he was very sorry cheating athletes were not caught by the country’s anti-doping systems.
He however stopped short of admitting the scandal had been state-sponsored.
A task force has been studying the Russian reforms but a fresh World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report, issued on Wednesday, had made more damaging claims.
WADA said officials in Russia were being stopped from testing athletes and were threatened by security services.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president John Coates said Russia’s athletes should remain banned and not be allowed to take part in the Rio Games this summer.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympics pole vault champion Isinbayeva may not be the only one to take legal action against the IAAF.
“I think many sportsmen will go to court,’’ Dmitry Shlyakhtin, president of the Russian Athletics Association, said.(NAN)