Russian athletics federation accepts IAAF ban

New Delhi: The Russian athletics federation (ARAF) has accepted the blanket ban from international competition without contesting the ruling, the IAAF confirmed on Thursday.

“The IAAF council was today informed that written confirmation had been received yesterday from Araf accepting their full suspension without requesting a hearing as was their constitutional right," an IAAF statement said.

On November 13, the IAAF voted to suspend Araf after the publication of an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report that alleged "state-sponsored doping".

The statement added, “Araf confirmed they understood that the council would only accept their reinstatement as an IAAF member following the recommendation of the IAAF inspection team who will decide if the verification criteria have been fulfilled. Araf confirmed they will cooperate fully and actively with the team.”

Later today, IAAF will decide the measures Russia needs to implement to be reinstated to world athletics.