Athletics is a sport in Russia.[1] Russian athletes competed in international athletics competitions such as Olympic Games or World athletics championships. Athletics was governed in Russia by the All-Russia Athletic Federation.[citation needed] The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found widespread doping and large-scale cover ups by the Russian authorities, the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) was declared non-compliant with respect to the World Anti-Doping Code, and in 2015 the IAAF council overwhelmingly voted in favour of prohibiting Russia from world sports events with immediate effect.[2] ARAF accepted the indefinite IAAF suspension. As of 2022, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Athletics has banned all Russian athletes, support personnel, and officials from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future, including those with ANA status.[3] Beginning in March 2022, after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Diamond League excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes from all of its track and field meetings.[4]

Russian athletes at international competitions

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Medal tables

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Event Medals
Tot.
Olympic Games25262576

Olympic Games

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As the Russian Empire, the nation first competed at the 1900 Games, and returned again in 1908 and 1912. After the Russian revolution in 1917, and the subsequent establishment of the Soviet Union in 1922, it would be thirty years until Russian athletes once again competed at the Olympics, at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russian athletes participated in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona as part of the Unified Team.[citation needed]

Games Participants Men Women Total
1900–1912as part of the  Russian Empire (RU1)
1920–1948did not participate
1952–1988as part of the  Soviet Union (URS)
Spain 1992 Barcelonaas part of the  Unified Team (EUN)
United States 1996 Atlanta850303331736110
Australia 2000 Sydney1091045242834613
Greece 2004 Athens11511355631467619
China 2008 Beijing10421364441265718
United Kingdom 2012 London9710016451574516
Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro1000000000000
Total5510202021155625262576

Doping ban

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In December 2014, a documentary by German broadcaster ARD made wide-ranging allegations of state involvement in systematic doping in Russian athletics, accusing Russia of an "East German-style" doping programme.[5] The allegations resulted in the resignation of ARAF President Valentin Balakhnichevas Treasurer of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[6]

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently investigated the allegations. The 323-page report, published on 9 November 2015, confirmed widespread doping and large-scale cover ups by the authorities. It recommended that the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) be declared non-compliant with respect to the World Anti-Doping Code, and recommended that the International Olympic Committee not accept any entries from ARAF until compliance was reached.[7][8] Based on this report, which The Guardian described as "damning",[9] the IAAF council overwhelmingly voted 22–1 in favour of prohibiting Russia from world sports events with immediate effect, in its 13 November session.[2] Russia has been also prohibited from hosting the 2016 World Race Walking Team Championships (Cheboksary) and 2016 World Junior Championships (Kazan), and ARAF must entrust doping cases to Court of Arbitration for Sport.[2] ARAF accepted the indefinite IAAF suspension and did not request a hearing.[10] ARAF's efforts towards regaining full IAAF membership will be monitored by a five-person IAAF team.[11]

Russian invasion of Ukraine ban

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As of 2022, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Athletics banned all Russian athletes, support personnel, and officials from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future, including those with ANA status.[citation needed] Beginning in March 2022, after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Diamond League excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes from all of its track and field meetings.[12]

See also

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References

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