Press Release - AIMS - 11/24/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     AIMS RECEIVES CLARIFICATION FROM THE IAAF ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS 
                      RACES AND RUSSIAN FUN RUNNERS
 
Following recent events, the world running organisation the Association of 
International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) would like to clarify the 
position in the interests of its Members and the many Russian runners that 
are welcome and valued participants in many of its member races.

On 13 November 2015, the IAAF (International Association of Athletics 
Federations), the world governing body for Athletics announced that the 
All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) would be provisionally suspended as 
an IAAF Member with immediate effect.  This will mean that all Russian 
runners and their support personnel (managers, coaches, etc.) may not 
compete in international races during the period of provisional suspension.

The ban on participation of Russian athletes applies to any Russian athlete 
who is affiliated to ARAF (or who is affiliated to a club or region that is 
affiliated to ARAF). This includes any athlete whose participation has been 
negotiated by the organisers but also any athlete with an affiliation to 
ARAF.

AIMS have advised their 390 Member races of the recommendation of the IAAF 
to ‘not negotiate the entry or participation of any Russian athletes’ (as 
defined above).

However in further communication with AIMS the IAAF stated “In principle, 
ordinary fun runners with absolutely no ties to the Russian Federation are 
eligible to participate.” This is a position that AIMS supports and would 
encourage all Russian fun runners to enter and participate in AIMS member 
races as normal.

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: ‘AIMS has sought to clarify this matter 
on behalf of our 390 member races around the world and the many Russian fun 
runners that are welcome friends to many of our races for many years now. 
We would like to thank the IAAF for helping bring clarity to this matter so 
Russian fun runners can continue to enjoy participation in AIMS races.’

About AIMS

AIMS is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has 
grown to a membership of more than 390 of the world’s leading distance 
races, from over 108 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from 
every continent on the planet and include the Athens Marathon, The 
Authentic formed on the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier-runner 
who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the 
Persians had been defeated in the ‘Battle of Marathon’. Other AIMS members 
include many of the world’s greatest distance races in history such as the 
Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York & Tokyo Marathons. The three key 
objectives of AIMS are:
 
To foster and promote distance running throughout the world
 
To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF)
 
on all matters relating to international road races. 
To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the 
association
  
To apply for AIMS membership today click here. To find out more about AIMS 
and the benefits of being part of our organisation, please visit our 
website. 


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