# World Athletics chief Coe pledges to defend Russia sanctions in court

https://mins.news/en/item/22174

- Al Jazeera, 2026-08-14 13:04 UTC
- Sports
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/8/14/russia-stance-will-be-defended-in-court-pledges-world-athletics-chief-coe?traffic_source=rss

> Russian Athletics has filed a new case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport challenging the sanctions imposed by World Athletics on Russian and Belarusian athletes. President Sebastian Coe says he will appear to defend the policy, arguing that it protects the integrity of competition rather than reflecting politics or passports.