CAS to decide fate of banned Russian athletes

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will decide the fate of eight Russian athletes accused of breaching doping regulations following the suspension of the All Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF).

Race walkers Elmira Alembekova, Ivan Noskov, Mikhail Ryzhov, Denis Strelkov and Vera Sokolova were last year banned by the IAAF after testing positive for Erythropoietin (EPO).

ARAF would have made a ruling on the five athletes' cases, but the governing body was suspended by the IAAF last November following the publication of a report from an Independent Commission launched by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which exposed state-sponsored doping and corruption.

CAS on Friday revealed it will act as a "sole instance decision making authority" in the cases and will aim to make decisions "within a reasonable timeframe."

Ekaterina Sharmina, charged with use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method after analysis of her biological passport, will also have her case heard by CAS but the middle-distance runner will have the right to an appeal with a separate CAS panel.

Middle-distance runner Kristina Ugarova and heptathlete Tatyana Chernova have also had their cases referred to CAS.