Coe says IOC made 'only decision' in banning Russia

MUMBAI: World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said Saturday (Oct 14) the International Olympic Committee had made the "only decision left open to them" in suspending Russia's national Olympic body for violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine's membership.

The IOC's move, made Thursday during an ongoing executive board meeting in Mumbai, came after the Russian Olympic Committee recognised regional organisations from four Ukrainian territories annexed since Russia's invasion began in 2022.

World Athletics, however, originally excluded competitors, coaches and officials from Russia and Belarus, a supporter of the invasion, from its events as early as March 2022.

"I think it was the right decision," Coe told a news conference in Mumbai.

"I think it was the only decision that was left open to them (the IOC).

"Our position at World Athletics is clear and has been clear on a number of issues since 2015."

British track great Coe is now in what he says will be the final four years of a stint as World Athletics president that started in 2015.

The 67-year-old, a double Olympic 1500 metre gold medallist, has long been tipped as a future IOC president.

But former UK politician Coe, speaking ahead of Saturday's opening ceremony for the IOC session in Mumbai, said: "I'm delighted to be, as ever, representing my sport in the Olympic movement -- not the other way round."

The London 2012 Olympic Games chief added: "I don't think it will come as a huge surprise to anybody when I say the Olympic movement has been the largest part of my life...I competed in two Olympic Games, I was very proud to be the leader of a team that delivered the best Olympics ever (London 2012) and I'm now the president of the biggest, largest, Olympic sport."

Coe,