A Fracture in Lausanne: Coe Prepares to Defend Athlete Ban in Court

The governance of international sport is fracturing along geopolitical fault lines. At the centre of the dispute is World Athletics, which finds itself increasingly isolated in its uncompromising stance against Russian and Belarusian competitors. Following the governing body's decision in July to maintain a ban initially imposed in March 2022, the Russian athletics federation has launched a formal challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Russian officials describe the ongoing restrictions as selective and politicised, arguing that the sanctions unlawfully prevent the organisation from representing its athletes on the global stage.

Sebastian Coe, the two-time Olympic gold medallist who presides over World Athletics, is refusing to yield. Speaking on the sidelines of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, he confirmed his intention to personally defend the federation’s position in court. Coe insists the ban is not a matter of passports or politics, but rather a necessary measure to protect the integrity of athletic competition. He relies heavily on the legal precedent that international federations possess the fundamental right to determine their own eligibility criteria—a principle he notes has been previously upheld by the sports tribunal.

This hardline approach stands in stark contrast to the shifting winds in Lausanne. The International Olympic Committee has already opened the door for Russian athletes to participate in team events and qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. According to IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the committee intends to ensure athletes are not held responsible for the actions of their respective governments. Other major governing bodies, including World Gymnastics and the International Skating Union, have similarly relaxed their restrictions, leaving World Athletics as a prominent outlier.

The divergence in policy has provoked sharp reactions. Authorities in Kyiv have condemned the IOC's leniency as premature and unfounded, pointing to the fact that the military conflict is now in its fifth year. World Athletics has actively supported Ukrainian athletes through a dedicated fund established in 2022, explicitly stating that their ability to train and compete remains severely compromised. Yet, Coe’s assertion that his federation’s stance is strictly apolitical is somewhat complicated by his own past remarks. Following a visit to Ukraine last year, he conceded to a news agency that the conflict was not something he could ever view neutrally. He has, however, indicated that a formal peace agreement would clear the path for Russian athletes to return.

The impending legal battle at the Court of Arbitration for Sport will test the autonomy of individual sports federations against the broader mandates of the Olympic movement. If World Athletics prevails, it will cement the right of individual governing bodies to maintain geopolitical sanctions irrespective of IOC directives. If it fails, the precedent could force a sweeping, uniform reintegration of Russian competitors across all international sports, stripping federations of their final say on eligibility.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com