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Russia accept full suspension by IAAF

Monte Carlo  - The Russian athletics federation ARAF has accepted a full suspension from athletics competitions, the ruling body IAAF said on Thursday.

The IAAF said in a statement that it had received a confirmation letter the previous day in which ARAF general secretary Mikhail Butoc said: "We recognize suspension without a hearing."

The Russians could have requested a hearing before the IAAF council which was meeting Thursday but waived that right.

The Russian federation was provisionally suspended on November 13 in the wake of a report from a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission which spoke of systematic doping and cover-ups of positive doping tests in the country. The nation's anti-doping agency RUSADA was also suspended.

Russian athletes are suspended from all events and could miss the Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro.

Russian officials have pledged to cooperate and undertake reform of its structures.

The IAAF last week set out five principles Russia would have to meet in order to be able to compete again. These include "establishing an effective and operational anti-doping framework in Russia" and bans being given to athletes, coaches or officials who have committed anti-doping rule violations.

The principles were expected to be confirmed by the IAAF council Thursday, with a first report to the IAAF council set to be delivered on March 27.

This is more than four months before the start of the Rio Olympics but means Russia is likely to remain banned from the world indoor athletics championships held in the United States March 17-20.

"We will cooperate with nominated commission very actively. I hope for a positive result after certain time and full come back to the IAAF Family," Butov's letter published by the IAAF said.

"We are working very hard now in Russia to change a lot. I'm not coming to Monaco now however I'm sure my IAAF council colleagues will find right solutions for our sport future."

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