Lord Coe says Ukraine trip reaffirmed his Russian and Belarusian athletes stance

World Athletics president Lord Coe revealed a trip to Ukraine reaffirmed his stance that the governing body remains right to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from its competitions.

Coe, who also met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, praised the resilience of athletes he met at the country’s national championships, which also served as trials for this summer’s Paris Olympics.

The door to Olympic track and field remains firmly shut to Russian and Belarusian athletes as a result of World Athletics’ blanket order, introduced in 2022, in response to the countries’ involvement in the war in Ukraine, while other federations have allowed athletes to participate in qualifying and other events.

The International Olympic Committee will permit the inclusion of “individual neutral athletes” – vetted by a panel – whose restrictions will include competing under a neutral flag and anthem, and neither athletes nor coaches who “actively support” the war will be approved.

President Coe’s meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine

World Athletics President Seb Coe travelled to the Ukraine this past weekend and met with President @ZelenskyyUa on Constitution Day, Friday 28 June 2024.

Full press release