‘We are new faces’: Russia’s athletes seek way back to global arena

By Sumeyye Eryilmaz

KAZAN, Russia (AA) – The stadium roared as Fyodor Ivanov crossed the finish line in 47.94 seconds, breaking a decade-old Russian record in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. His time beat the 48.50-second World Championships qualifying standard, a mark that would normally put him on the world stage.

However, for Ivanov and many of his peers, the international arena remains out of reach, restricted by sanctions that have kept Russian athletes at home for nearly 10 years.

“I feel strong and am eager to return to the international arena,” he told Anadolu, his eyes reflecting both determination and hope.

The story is similar for Polina Knoroz, who cleared 4.86 meters (15 feet, 11.3 inches) in the pole vault, the second-best mark in the world this year and the best in Europe.

“I do not have the opportunity to perform on the international stage,” she added. “But in Russia, I can produce a world-class result.”

Her performance was among the standout results at the 2025 PSB Russian Track and Field Championships, which delivered national records and world-ranking marks that Russian officials cited as proof of their athletes’ competitiveness amid the international ban.

- ‘Open and frank discussion’ on reinstatement

Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) President Petr Fradkov confirmed the event’s dual purpose.

“Our aim is to demonstrate operational excellence, athlete readiness, and total compliance with every technical requirement that may be set before us,” Fradkov told Anadolu, adding that RusAF is in “an open and frank discussion” with World Athletics to find a path to reinstatement.

Fradkov expressed optimism that decisions could soon allow some athletes to return to international competitions, asserting that the federation has complied with all regulations since the ban.

The federation was first suspended in November 2015 after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) uncovered a widespread, state-sponsored doping program. The ban was compounded by further findings of data manipulation and an incident in which officials were found to have fabricated documents for an athlete.

While the original doping-related sanctions were removed in March 2023, World Athletics immediately imposed a separate ban on all Russian athletes due to the war in Ukraine.

But RusAF’s new leadership insists it has turned a page.

“We were not part of that history. We are new faces,” RusAF Secretary-General Alexander Djordjadze told Anadolu. “I understand ... there could be mistrust on the other side, since there is a painful history with this federation in particular.”

Djordjadze said the only way to build trust is through transparency, which he said the federation is committed to. He added that Russia’s doping-related sanctions have been lifted and that the issue is now “ancient history.”

- The toll on Russian athletes

The prolonged stalemate has taken a heavy toll on a generation of Russian athletes.

Sergey Shubenkov, a former world champion in hurdles, has lived through the entire suspension. “November 2015 – feels like yesterday,” he told Anadolu.

The consequences have extended beyond the track.

“When the companies left Russia, a lot of sponsorship just ended,” Shubenkov said, noting he lost a large chunk of his income.

Yelena Sokolova, an Olympic silver medalist and BRICS Games winner, said she tries not to dwell on expectations of a quick return.

“After so many years, I tried not to think about it,” she told Anadolu. “It would be good, but anytime I think about that, it doesn’t happen.”

For younger athletes, the ban has meant entire careers built in isolation.

“In particular, we are worried about a new generation of young athletes who desperately need experience at international competitions,” said Djordjadze.

- A possible path forward

Faced with this deadlock, RusAF is pursuing a multifaceted strategy, combining direct dialogue with World Athletics with a concerted effort to reshape international perception.

As executive director Boris Yaryshevskiy told Anadolu, the federation is working to improve its English-language communications to address what he called past issues with “perceptions.”

Djordjadze emphasized that the push is driven by the “irreplaceable feel” of global competition that athletes desire, citing Russia’s participation at the Sahel Cup in Niger in August as an example.

While the federation navigates diplomacy, its athletes are in a race against time.

Each record by Ivanov or Knoroz reverberates mostly at home, a reminder of world-class talent with few places to show it.

Meanwhile, for veterans like Shubenkov, the ticking clock of a finite career threatens to run out long before Russia’s path back to the world stage is cleared.