Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the suspension of the All-Russia Athletic Federation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in November 2015 following allegations of state-sponsored doping published by the World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Commission, what is their assessment of whether the All-Russian Athletic Federation should (1) be readmitted at the IAAF Council meeting on 17 June in Vienna, and (2) participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio.

The re-enforcement of the ban on the All-Russia Athletic Federation to international competition by the International Association of Athletics Federations demonstrates the need for athletes to compete in a clean sport environment.

This was underlined further by the International Olympic Committee announcement that athletes from Russia, Spain and Kenya, countries that are currently non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, that wish to participate in Rio will be subject to a pre-Games testing programme before being admitted to the Games.