Sebastian Coe is 'saddened' by Russia’s indoor absence at World Indoor Championships
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IAAF president Sebastian Coe says he is saddened by the absence of Russia from the World Indoor Championships here in Portland but feels the governing body were left with no alternative.
He also said that there was no overwhelming desire among athletes to have the nation banned from this summer’s Olympics.
Following evidence of systematic doping, all Russian track and field athletes, whether linked to doping or not, have been suspended from international competition since November. The IAAF Council will convene in May to decide whether they can be reinstated for Rio.
And Coe said: “It saddens me that we’re in this situation. It is painful. I don’t like to see clean athletes sitting out championships but I think we were not left with any other alternative.”
Having consulted athletes past and present on the issue, he said they had no overriding opinion. “There’s no prevailing view,” he said. “On the athletes’ commission, which I spent quite a few hours with a few weeks ago, you’ve got a real bandwidth of views.”
Russia was second in the medals table at the last World Indoors in Poland in 2014, with five medals including three golds.
Meanwhile, Coe backed organisers of next year’s World Championships in London to overcome their boardroom battles and put on an event worthy of the capital. Four members have quit the London 2017 board in recent months following a split.
But Coe said UK Athletics bosses Ed Warner and Niels de Vos, who head the current management for the championships, were the right men to continue at the helm. “I’m sure London will be a spectacular success,” he said. “I have no reason to think otherwise.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments