CAS is already mediating efforts to settle a dispute between Russian Federation, its athletes and the governing body of world athletics over their participation in the Rio Olympic Games.
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The International Association of Athletics Federations banned Russia’s entire track and field federation following revelations of massive, state-sponsored doping.
The IAAF, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 68 Russian athletes have reached “a specific arbitration agreement” which lets CAS decide on the validity of the IAAF ban, a statement from the Lausanne-based court said.
Last month, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko had also revealed that at least 68 athletes had asked to be exempted from the ban.
As well as twice Olympic pole vault champion Isinbayeva (2004 and 2008) and high jump gold medallist Ukhov (2012), it includes world 110 metres hurdles champion Sergei Shubenkov and former European long jump title holder Darya Klishina.
The ruling body reiterated on June 17 that the band would apply to the Olympics in Rio.
The Russian committee’s legal head, Alexandra Brilliantova, said the 68 athletes covered by the appeal were “of absolutely flawless reputation, not involved in doping scandals, not linked to certain coaches”.
The IAAF announced late last month that it amended the organization’s regulations in order to allow field and track athletes from Russian Federation to submit individual applications for worldwide tournaments.
Russian officials have blasted what they call the IAAF’s hypocrisy, noting that two American celebrity sprinters Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin will be among a series of athletes competing in Rio who have previously tested positive for doping.
Only last week, the New Zealand team of George Bridgewater, John Storey, Nathan Flannery, and Jade Uru got the word that they’d been confirmed as replacing the Russians on the Rio start line.
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In addition, the IAAF has already approved an application from Russian athlete and doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, whose testimony of doping within the Russian team, including undercover footage of apparent doping confessions, formed an important part of the evidence against Russia in the WADA investigation.
