Athletics-No quick return for Russia in face of dual ban, says Coe

FILE PHOTO: Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, U.S. - July 22, 2022 IAAF President Sebastian Coe pictured trackside REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

(Reuters) - While the IOC prevaricates about the “dilemma” of banning Russian athletes from the 2024 Olympics, World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe has made it clear that as far as his sport is concerned they remain very much on the outside, twice-over.

IOC chief Thomas Bach said last week that a lengthy Executive Board debate resulted in the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remaining in place but that there were discussions about potentially allowing some individuals to take part as neutral athletes.