World Champions in athletics Maria Laecken, Sergey Shubenkov and Anzhelika Sidorova appealed to President of Russia Vladimir Putin for assistance in connection with the situation in the Russian sport.
From November 2015 the all-Russian athletics Federation (vfla) limited rights, athletes can compete on the international starts only in neutral status.
If prior to July 1, wfla will not be paid by the International Federation (World Athletics) to a fine of $ 5 million, then athletes may be denied the opportunity to speak and under a neutral flag. In addition to the principal penalty, on wfla imposed a conditional fine of $ 5 million.
“The crisis in athletics lasts from 2015.
During this period of time repeatedly alternated, the Minister of sport of the Russian Federation, head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the head of wfla. All this time we regularly heard to protect Russian athletes done, doing and will do everything that is possible.
And now, 5 years later, due to the actions of the management of the club, our athletes and coaches did not realize their potential, as last autumn, they are deprived of the opportunity to speak outside of Russia even in a neutral status. And on 1 July, in default of payment of fine, wfla, athletics can be finally expelled from the international Federation.
On may 3 last year, you instructed the ROC in the period until 2 December 2019 to take measures on restoration of membership of the club. This order gave all to understand that You do not care about athletics and the fate of people who have bound their lives with one of the most popular sports in Russia. Since then a year has passed, the order is not executed, and the situation has only worsened.
Our concern stems from the fact that in our country, a large number of sports structures in which a team of true professionals, we still see no concrete plan of an exit from prolonged crisis. That is why we have now to speak directly to You.
We’ve already missed the 2016 Olympic games, and there is a serious chance to miss the upcoming Games in Tokyo.
The question that we raise, not so much in our careers that will end sooner or later, but in the Russian athletics in General.
We want to draw attention to the catastrophic situation of our sport. We are on the verge of final collapse and destruction of athletics. We very much hope that the times when the athletes and coaches, not tarnished his reputation, staying with the trouble one on one, will soon end. Look forward to Your participation and understanding”, – said in the letter.
Even after the coup in our lifting problem: Shubenkov and Laecken will be deprived of a neutral flag, if Russia does not pay $10 million
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