The Russian DanceSport Union face the threat of being expelled from the World DanceSport Federation ©RDSU

Russia faces the threat of being expelled from the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) unless a set of clearly defined conditions and provisions are met by October 31.

A letter has been sent to Irina Petrova, President of the Russian DanceSport Union (RDSU), warning her that unless she is among a group of officials to resign and fresh elections are held by July 31 then the organisation will be expelled.

It follows complaints from several Russian dancers and officials that the RDSU was favouring one group over another.

"Let us be clear: we will not tolerate in any Member body a systematic exclusion and disenfranchisement, or either of them, of legitimate DanceSport people without reasonable grounds, and we will not tolerate circumstances in which the result of the Member body's activities seems to be the consistent avoidance of reconciliation and inclusion of all legitimate DanceSport people within the relevant country," WDSF general secretary Shawn Tay, wrote in a letter to Petrova.

"If you can commit unreservedly to the liberal, reform program of reconciliation, inclusion and reform described above, that would in our respectful view be best for DanceSport."

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Russian DanceSport Union President Irina Petrova, left, has been told she must step down if her organisation is to avoid expulsion from the World DanceSport Federation ©WDSF

The RDSU was formed after the Russian DanceSport Federation had its recognition by the Russian Ministry for Sports suspended in 2011 following allegations of corruption. 

The decision to threaten Russia with expulsion was taken at the WDSF's Annual General Meeting in Rome, who voted with a majority of two thirds to adopt a motion to expel RDSU if a set of clearly defined conditions and provisions are not met by the stipulated deadlines.

At the same time, the AGM passed a resolution to protect and embrace all Russian danceSport athletes and adjudicators in the case that RDSU is expelled from WDSF after October 31.

"This means all WDSF athletes and adjudicators will still be able to compete and participate in all WDSF competitions before and after the 31st of October, no matter the outcome," Ashli Williamson, chair of the WDSF Athletes' Commission and a member of WDSF Presidium, said.

"We encourage all athletes to help the organisation to make these changes so we can unify Russian DanceSport again."

To read the letter from the WDSF to th RDSU click here.