Russian athletics federation receives no IAAF inquiries for information aired by German TV

The All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) has received no official inquiries from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) demanding explanations by late next week for the suspected breach of anti-doping rules by Russian athletes, ARAF Acting President Vadim Zelenchyonok said on Monday.

The German TV Channel ARD aired on Sunday a new portion of its documentary on doping in international athletics, claiming the IAAF expected the ARAF to provide explanations over the suspected breach of anti-doping rules by Russian athletes.
The German TV Channel’s documentary further claimed that suspected Russian coaches and athletes would be barred from participation in the World Athletics Championship, if the ARAF failed to respond to the IAAF’s inquiry.

The documentary claimed, in particular, that a four-year suspension could be used against Russian runner Anastasia Bazdyreva who was included in the list of the national team’s athletes for participation in the IAAF World Championships opening in Beijing on August 22.
“We have not received any official letters or inquiries from the IAAF on this issue,” Zelenchyonok said.

“It is simply ludicrous that [Tatiana] Tomashova is mentioned in German media reports. She would have been automatically left outside the list of the national team’s athletes for participation in the Championship, if there had been any questions to her,” he added.

Media reports earlier said the IAAF might use sanctions against Russian female runner and 2005 world champion in the 1500 meter competition Tatyana Tomashova who was also included in the list of the national team’s athletes for participation in the 2015 World Athletics Championship.
Russian athletics Head Coach Yuri Borzakovsky “has also spoken on this issue but they [the media] continued repeating Tomashova’s name. Naturally, not a single athlete suspended from competitions for the period of a probe can take part in the Championship even before a decision is passed. Tomashova is on the national team’s list, which means that there are no questions to her,” the ARAF acting president said.