Sergei Shubenkov, the 110 meters hurdles world champion, expressed confusion about why World Athletics did not grant him neutral status to compete in international events. His remark appeared on Pair TV, where he shared his perspective about the situation and the broader context facing Russian athletes on the world stage.
He noted that a request was submitted earlier in the season, accompanied by the necessary documents, yet there had been no reply. He reflected that the lack of a response makes it unlikely that anything will change this year. If a decision did come, he suggested it would come too late to be meaningful, given that the rest of the team would be ineligible to participate in competitions anyway.
Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee issued guidance to international sports federations about eligibility, advising that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be admitted to competitions. The move comes in the wake of longstanding sanctions on Russian athletics that began in 2015 after doping-related concerns and investigations intensified within the sport.
Shubenkov has previously spoken about the state of Russian sports and the factors shaping its participation in international events. His comments highlight the ongoing debate over eligibility rules, national representation, and the pathways available for athletes to compete at the highest levels while addressing broader concerns about governance, fairness, and sporting integrity.