Russian Athletics files fresh claim at CAS to challenge World Athletics sanctions

The Russian Athletics Federation filed a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 10 August 2026 to contest sanctions imposed by World Athletics.

World Athletics has banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from international competition since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Lausanne, serves as sport's highest arbitration body and hears disputes involving athletes, federations and governing organisations. The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted Russia's suspension in July, potentially allowing the country to compete at the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles.

Russian Athletics said the ongoing sanctions "infringe on the organisation's rights", adding they "prevent it from fully representing the interests of Russian athletes on an international level." The federation argued the measures impede its ability to operate internationally on behalf of its athletes.

Boris Yaryshevskiy, chief executive director of Russian Athletics, issued a statement that said: "The sanctions against Russian Athletics are unprecedented. No other sports federation faces such severe restrictions," He added: "They not only hinder the federation's normal operation but also hold back the development of athletics in Russia, particularly among young athletes, preventing us from properly representing our sport in the international arena."

The federation lodged a separate appeal on 9 July challenging a decision by the World Athletics Council to extend the ban on Russian athletes from international events. The World Athletics Council is the main rule-making and executive body of World Athletics.

Other international federations have recently eased restrictions on Russian athletes; World Gymnastics, World Aquatics and World Boxing are named among those that relaxed measures this year. Some Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals at the 2024 Paris Games and at this year's Winter Olympics in Milan.

Yaryshevskiy concluded with a pledge of further legal action: "That is why we will consistently defend our rights, pursue the lifting of the sanctions through the courts, and continue our work in this direction. We are already preparing our next steps to restore justice."