Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The World Athletics Council held its 241st meeting via video conference on 1-2 July, focusing on the participation status of Russian and Belarusian Member Federations amid the conflict in Ukraine. The Council reaffirmed its previous decisions from 2022, revisited in 2023 and 2025, to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, officials, and support staff from international competitions. This stance continues due to the lack of significant progress toward peace negotiations, aiming to protect competition integrity and fairness, according to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
The Council also addressed the broader impact of the conflict on Ukrainian athletics. Disrupted domestic competitions, limited athlete participation, and damaged infrastructure have affected training and qualification. The Council acknowledged a dedicated fund established in 2022 to assist Ukraine, which helps ease some challenges for athletes and coaches, though overall conditions remain difficult.
Regarding competitions, the Council approved the schedule for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Yangzhou 27. The event will begin on 28 March 2027, featuring women’s and men’s 5km races at 6:10am and 6:35am, followed by women’s and men’s half marathons at 7:00am and 7:20am.
The Council also reinstated the U20 5000m race walk as a world record event, effective immediately. The inaugural world record standards are 18:50.00 for men and 20:30.00 for women, set after reviewing all-time performances.
Other decisions included confirming delegate appointments for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the Yangzhou 2027 Championships, and adding three new members to the Nationality Review Panel for a four-year term beginning 1 August 2026. An 18-month plan was also approved.