Russia doping questions persist because of the war in Ukraine

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The doping task force created nearly eight years ago to chart Russia's path back into track and field holds its final meeting this week before being disbanded. “That is a very important question,” Sebastian Coe said Thursday at the World Athletics council meeting where he was elected to a third term as president. Coe said even with Russia's track federation back in good standing from a doping standpoint, the chance of the team being allowed to compete at next year's Paris Olympics “looks unlikely at the moment, given where we are with the events in Ukraine.” With the task force's work done, the Athletics Integrity Unit, formed to oversee the anti-doping effort in track, essentially takes over as the outside overseer of Russia's track athletes. It plans to conduct another 550 in-competition tests.. AIU looks at issues outside of doping, including “age manipulation.” Howman told the council it is investigating cases involving athletes who compete at junior world championships who are older than they claim to be.