Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin assured that the fine imposed by the World Athletics Association on the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) will be paid by August 15. This is stated in a letter from the Russian minister sent on July 30 to World Atheltics, according to a message on the organization’s website.
“ARAF did not pay a fine of $ 6.31 million until July 1. This morning, Oleg Matytsin made an unconditional commitment that the specified amount will be paid by August 15, ”said World Athletics Chairman Rune Andersen.
Also, the online council of an international organization recommended its congress to exclude ARAF from the organization’s membership if the Russian side does not pay the fine before the date specified by Matytsin.
While waiting for the decision of the Congress, the status of “neutral athlete” will not be available to Russian athletes, thus, their suspension from participation in international competitions has been extended.
In early July, the ex-head of ARAF Evgeny Yurchenko said that the payment of a fine to World Athletics in the current economic situation is unaffordable. Everything possible was done to find these funds, he noted.
World Athletics fined the Russian side in March $ 10 million and announced its intention to issue a neutral status to Russian athletes only after paying a $ 5 million fine.
A fine of $ 10 million was imposed for the falsification of documents by the former leadership of the organization in the case of Russian jumper Danil Lysenko. Also ARAF must reimburse the international federation of the costs in the amount of $ 1.31 million. Payment of $ 5 million is suspended.
Lysenko was disqualified in the summer of 2018 for missing three doping tests during the year.