World Athletics
The future participation of the Russian and Belarusian Member Federations in athletics and various competition decisions were among the key topics discussed during the 241st World Athletics Council Meeting held via video conference on 1-2 July.
A number of options were outlined to Council regarding potential updates to the sanctions originally imposed on Russia and Belarus following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
The Council reaffirmed the decision it made in March 2022, revisited in 2023 and 2025 and discussed again in March 2026 to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, officials and supporting personnel from international competition.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: "The Council and the Working Group on the status of Russians/Belarusians in International Competitions & Events have been consequential and methodical in reviewing the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus and in identifying a conditional pathway back into international competition. We presented options for the Council to consider on this matter, however, the original decision remains on the sanctions that protect the integrity and fairness of our competitions, with no tangible movement towards peace negotiations having materialised."
In its deliberations, the Council was cognisant of the wider impact of the conflict on Ukraine athletics, for example, the ability to hold domestic competitions regularly, impacting on their ability to achieve qualification standards and/or earn ranking points, the numbers of Ukrainian athletes who are able to compete, and the severely compromised athletics infrastructure within Ukraine, coaches and support personnel. The dedicated fund that World Athletics established in 2022 to support Ukraine is helping ameliorate some of that impact, but there is no doubt the ability of Ukraine and its athletes to train and compete remains severely compromised.
Competition decisions
A series of competition decisions were made, including the approval of the timetable for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Yangzhou 27:
Sunday 28 March 2027
6:10am women’s 5km
6:35am men’s 5km
7:00am women’s half marathon
7:20am men’s half marathon
The Council approved the proposal to re-introduce the U20 5000m race walk as a world record event with immediate effect. Following a review of the all-time performances, the inaugural world record standards will be 18:50.00 for men and 20:30.00 for women.
Delegate appointments for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the World Athletics Road Running Championships Yangzhou 27 were also confirmed.
Other decisions made by the Council included the appointment of three additional members to the Nationality Review Panel for a four-year mandate starting from 1 August 2026, and the approval of an 18-month plan for the Coaches’ Commission.
The Coaches’ Commission plan focuses on strengthening elite-level coaching and high-performance environments across World Athletics, in alignment with the World Plan for Athletics 2022-2030 and the Pioneering Change strategy. The plan aims to ensure that coaches’ voices are effectively represented in World Athletics decision-making, and to provide expert advice to Council on professional standards, ethics, safeguarding, gender equity and innovation within elite coaching.
World Athletics
