Russian President Vladimir Putin, seen here at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, has been asked to intervene with Russian athletics "on the verge of disaster" ©Getty Images

Russian athletes, including three-time high jump world champion Mariya Lasitskene, have written to the country's President, urging him to intervene in the dispute between World Athletics and the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF).

The athletes warned Valdimir Putin that Russian athletics is "on the verge of disaster", with a July 1 deadline for RusAF to pay half of a $10 million (£8 million/€9 million) fine looming.

Former 110 metres hurdles world champion Sergey Shubenkov and reigning pole vault world champion Anzhelika Sidorova also signed the letter.

Should payment not be made, the Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) process which allows certain Russian athletes to compete under a neutral banner will be suspended.

World Athletics imposed an ANA cap of 10 athletes for major events, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, on Russia when it resumed the process in March and announced the fine, which stems from an investigation concerning high jumper Danil Lysenko.

Seven RusAF officials - including then-President Dmitry Shlyakhtin - were charged by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) with obstructing an anti-doping investigation into Lysenko by forging documents to explain missed tests.

The 23-year-old Lysenko now faces a ban of up to eight years.

The letter to Putin, as translated by RT, starts by telling the President that "Russian athletics has been in crisis since 2015", referencing when RusAF was initially suspended by World Athletics.

"During that period a great number of officials, including the head of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Sports Minster and chief of Russian Athletics Federation have been replaced," it continues.

Mariya Lasitskene has won two of her three World Athletics Championships gold medals as a neutral athlete ©Getty Images
Mariya Lasitskene has won two of her three World Athletics Championships gold medals as a neutral athlete ©Getty Images

"We have constantly heard statements that everything possible has been done to protect Russian athletes.

"And now, five years later our athletes and coaches are not even allowed to show their potential, as they are prohibited from performing internationally even in neutral status. 

"Starting from July 1 our national federation could be completely expelled from World Athletics if the fee imposed by the governing body is not paid.

"Last year, you tasked the ROC with working out necessary measures to restore the international membership of RusAF, making it clear that you worry about the fate of Russian track and field and athletes.

"One year has passed since then, but the situation has only deteriorated. 

"We still don’t see any plan to solve the crisis and have no choice but to address you personally.

"We want to direct your attention to the catastrophic state of things in Russian athletics. 

"We are on the verge of disaster. 

"We hope for your support and understanding."






View this post on Instagram









Президенту РФ Путину В.В. Уважаемый Владимир Владимирович! Кризисная ситуация в легкой атлетике длится с 2015 года. За этот период времени неоднократно сменялись министр спорта РФ, руководитель Олимпийского комитета России и глава ВФЛА. Всё это время мы регулярно слышали, что для защиты российских спортсменов сделано, делается и будет сделано всё, что только можно. И вот сейчас, спустя 5 лет, вследствие действий руководства ВФЛА наши легкоатлеты и тренеры вовсе не могут реализовывать свой потенциал, так как с прошлой осени они лишены возможности выступать вне России даже в нейтральном статусе. А 1 июля, в случае невыплаты штрафа ВФЛА, легкая атлетика может быть окончательно изгнана из международной федерации. 3 мая прошлого года вы дали поручение ОКР в срок до 2 декабря 2019 года принять меры по восстановлению членства ВФЛА. Это поручение дало всем понять, что Вам не безразлична легкая атлетика, а также судьбы людей, связавших свою жизнь с одним из самых массовых видов спорта в России. С тех пор прошёл год, поручение не выполнено, а ситуация только ухудшилась. Наша обеспокоенность связана с тем, что, имея в нашей стране такое большое количество спортивных структур, в которых работают настоящие профессионалы, мы до сих пор не видим конкретного плана выхода из затянувшегося кризиса. Именно поэтому мы вынуждены сейчас обратиться напрямую к Вам. Мы уже пропустили Олимпийские игры-2016, и существует серьезная вероятность пропустить и предстоящие Игры в Токио. Вопрос, который мы поднимаем, не столько в наших карьерах, которые рано или поздно закончатся, сколько в российской легкой атлетике в целом. Мы хотим обратить внимание на катастрофическое положение дел с нашим видом спорта. Мы стоим на пороге окончательного развала и уничтожения лёгкой атлетики. Мы очень надеемся на то, что времена, когда атлеты и тренеры, никак не запятнавшие свою репутацию, остаются со своей бедой один на один, вскоре закончатся. Надеемся на Ваше участие и понимание. Чемпион мира в барьерном беге Сергей Шубенков Чемпионка мира в прыжке с шестом Анжелика Сидорова Трёхкратная чемпионка мира в прыжке в высоту Мария Ласицкене 23 июня 2020 года

A post shared by Sergey Shubenkov (@sergey.shubenkov) on


Lasitskene won two of her three World Athletics Championship gold medals as a neutral athlete.

Sidorova's gold medal at last year's World Athletics Championships in Doha came as an ANA, while Shubenkov has won two World Athletics Championship silver medals in the 110m hurdles as a neutral athlete.

He has also won gold and bronze medals in the discipline representing Russia.

The trio are all part of the AIU's registered international testing pool and have been vocal on doping issues and the plight of clean Russian athletes in the past.

Lasitskene, Shubenkov and Sidorova met World Athletics President Sebastian Coe before the World Athletics Council approved the latest sanctions against Russia in March to raise concerns over their inability to compete.

Coe said at the time that they "made some very helpful observations" and "want to be part of the solution".

RusAF has been suspended by World Athletics since November 2015 following revelations of state-sponsored doping.

The Lysenko affair plunged the organisation into further trouble and contributed to the AIU Board stating in a report earlier this year that the World Athletics Council should consider expelling RusAF.