The International Athletics Federation rejects Russia's request to postpone fine payment
The International Athletics Federation (World Athletics) announced on Monday that it has rejected the Russian Athletics Federation's (RUSAF) request to postpone the payment of a fine imposed for its doping rule violations.
This fine, amounting to five million dollars, which RUSAF was sanctioned in March, must be paid before July 1.
If not paid, the quota for 10 Russian athletes authorized to compete under a neutral flag will be suspended.
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"We confirm having received the request from RUSAF" to postpone the payment, said World Athletics spokesperson Nicole Jeffery in a statement to AFP.
"We have responded that there will be no changes to the sanctions," she added. "The deadline for payment is July 1, 2020."
RUSAF Vice President Eduard Bezuglov announced on Sunday that RUSAF had made this request because "it is difficult to pay this amount at this time".
"We don't have this money," he said in an interview with the Russian press in early June.
Last week, several athletes, including star athlete Maria Lasitskene, urged their federation to pay the fine due to the risk of not being allowed to compete "not only next season, but also in the Tokyo Olympics", postponed to July 2021 due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
In November 2019, World Athletics suspended the selection process for Russian athletes who could compete internationally, considering that RUSAF helped world high jump runner-up Danil Lysenko avoid a sanction for failing to be available for surprise doping tests.
The federation also suspended the process of integrating Russia, which has been suspended since November 2015 for establishing an institutionalized doping system.
In March, World Athletics authorized a maximum of 10 Russian athletes to participate under a neutral flag in international competitions and in the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for 2021. (D)