WMA president gives Russians hope of competing in international masters meets in 2019

Aleksandr Menkov, 2013 world champion, been cleared to compete in 2018. He'll turn masters age 35 in December 2025.Aleksandr Menkov, 2013 world champion, been cleared to compete in 2018. He'll turn masters age 35 in December 2025.

Russians wanting to compete in international masters meets may have reason to celebrate.

On Christmas Day, WMA Prez Margit Jungmann wrote me: “I had the occasion to discuss the Russian case with IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe in Monaco the day after the council decision [regarding the Russian ban being lifted] and to explain the difficulties for masters to get approval as neutral athlete. IAAF and WMA are looking together to find a solution that allows masters to become the approval of neutral athlete. This is a difficult process, but for the moment I am hopeful to find a solution. Due to the holiday season this is not easy, but I am working on that together with Pierre Weiss, the Chairman of IAAF Masters Commission.”

So that’s hopeful.

The first major test would be 2019 indoor worlds in Torun, Poland.

So stay tuned.

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About the Author

Ken Stone
Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and webmaster since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials. He worked for 10 newspapers and now reports for Times of San Diego. Write him at TrackCEO@aol.com or kens@timesofandiego.com. Story tips always welcome!

1 Comment on "WMA president gives Russians hope of competing in international masters meets in 2019"

  1. The ban of Russian Masters is completely groundless , illegal and it violates the fundamental human right to practice without restrictions any kind of sports. We -Russian Masters- are convinced that this measure is a political but not a sportive decision taken to punish us because we are Russians. Any impartial man can see that we have nothing to do with some our young professional athletes who take stimulants and that finally we are subjects of an unlawful collective responsibility. In conclusion I would like to thank Mr. Ken Stone who always attracts the attention abroad to the problem of Russian Masters.

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