The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced the team tasked with overseeing the reform of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF), following Friday's provisional suspension of Russian track and field athletes from international competition.
Led by renowned anti-doping expert Rune Andersen, the IAAF Inspection Team is made up of four IAAF council members: Abby Hoffman of Canada, Anna Ricardi of Italy, Frank Frederiks of Namibia and Geoff Gardner of Norfolk Island, the IAAF press release reported Tuesday.
“I’m honored to have been asked by Sebastian Coe to head the verification process. I have devoted my life to clean sport and it’s on behalf of the innocent athletes who are Russia’s athletics future that we begin our task to ensure that fair and honest competition is guaranteed,” Andersen said.
An independent commission by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended that the ARAF be declared "non-compliant" with the anti-doping code, and be suspended from track and field competition, the report published last week said. On that recommendation, the IAAF provisionally suspended Russia from international competition on Friday.
Russian runner Viktor Ugarov became the first Russian athlete affected by the suspension when his winning time at the Kanazawa Marathon in Japan on Sunday was disallowed.
"The event organizer is disqualifying his record and no appearance or prize money will be paid," the IAAF said, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.
