Green light from World Athletics to World Masters Athletics for participation of Russian athletes in WMA championships and EMA championships
The November 2015 suspension of RusAF’s membership of World Athletics also included the suspension of Masters Athletes. Today, 1st of December 2021, Chairman Rune Andersen provided an update to WA Council on behalf of the WA Russia Taskforce. The report was important for WMA as it included recommendations for the future of Masters Athletes.
The Taskforce recommended that Council resolve as follows: “For the avoidance of doubt, Russian masters-level athletes must apply for ANA status if they wish to compete in international competitions that are under World Athletics’ jurisdiction, but not if they are only competing in events that are under the jurisdiction of the World Masters Association, not of World Athletics.”
WA Council followed the recommendation. This means that Russian athletes – except those who are on the WA’s list of ineligible Russian athletes – will be allowed to participate in WMA championships and EMA championships from 2022 forward. This includes the 2022 championships in Braga and Tampere.
Background:
WMA council mandated the president, together with the WA representative Antti Pihlakoski, Finland, renegotiate the participation of Russian Masters athletes in competitions starting in 2022. Margit Jungmann, the president of WMA, is very relieved that today’s WA Council decision solved the case for masters competing under the umbrella of WMA. She thanked President Sebastian Coe and the WA council for the decision and particularly council member Antti Pihlakoski for his strong support.
