The Russian Athletics Federation has issued a sharp rebuke of the World Athletics Council following the decision to maintain the long-standing ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes. The announcement, confirmed on Friday, extends the suspension that has now been in place for four years, initially imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In a statement released on Saturday, the Russian athletics body expressed deep disappointment, characterizing the decision as yet another discriminatory act by the international governing body. The federation argued that the continued exclusion of its athletes runs counter to core Olympic principles and ignores shifting trends in the broader global sports landscape. Officials expressed particular concern for an entire generation of young Russian athletes, who they argue are being denied the fundamental opportunity to compete at the highest international levels through no fault of their own. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe defended the council's decision, emphasizing that the governing body remains committed to protecting the integrity and fairness of its competitions. Coe noted that the council conducted a methodical review of the existing sanctions but ultimately found that no tangible progress toward peace negotiations had been achieved, which was a primary condition for considering a path back to international competition. The decision stands in contrast to the stances adopted by several other international sports organizations. While the International Olympic Committee has begun to urge sports federations to consider paths for the return of athletes from these regionsβ€”and organizations such as World Gymnastics and the International Skating Union have already moved to lift or relax certain restrictionsβ€”World Athletics has maintained a stricter policy. The governing body also cited the ongoing impact of the conflict on Ukrainian sports infrastructure. Officials noted that the ability of Ukrainian athletes to train and compete remains severely compromised, and that the organization continues to support a dedicated fund established in 2022 to assist the nation’s athletic community. President Coe concluded that while the door may not be permanently closed, the current climate of conflict prevents the organization from adopting a neutral stance on the matter.