Russian officials suspended over anti-doping violations

MONACO: The president of Russian athletics and senior officials have been suspended for “serious breaches” of anti-doping rules, putting Russian track and field athletes’ participation at next year’s Tokyo Olympics in further danger.

The suspensions came after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Thursday accused the Russian athletics federation (RUSAF) of obstructing an investigation into high-jumper Danil Lysenko, a silver medallist at the 2017 World Championships in London.

RUSAF president Dmitry Shlyakhtin and the federation’s executive director Alexander Parkin have been provisionally suspended. Lysenko and his coach have also been suspended.

Russia has been banned from competing as a country in athletics since 2015, after WADA found evidence of widespread doping in the sport.