Revisions to the World Anti-Doping Code that came into effect on 1 April will prevent international federations and major event organisers from appointing Russia or its cities as host of their events. Under Article 20.3.11 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), international federations must only accept bids for world championships and other international events ‘from countries where the government has ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to the UNESCO Convention and the National Olympic Committee and National Anti-Doping Organisation are in compliance with the Code’. Article 20.6.6 of the ISCCS places the same obligation on major event organisers (MEOs).

As the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has not been compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code since 18 November 2015, this would prevent international federations and MEOs from accepting bids from Russia and its cities to host their events. In November last year, Russia withdrew a planned bid to host the 2023 Basketball World Cup. ‘Given the current global sporting community’s attitude to the Russian athletes and national sports as a whole, we have decided to abandon any further struggle for the right to host the World Cup’, read a statement. Ekaterinburg is also bidding to host the 2020 Table Tennis World Championships.

“Russia can still apply to host international competitions”, argued Russia’s Minister of Sport, Pavel Kolobkov, in an interview published by the Russian Ministry of Sport. “Yes, WADA recommends that federations do not accept such applications. But let’s be frank – to host competitions is quite a complex organisational and financially costly process. Not many countries are keen to host major competitions […] Just last week, I had a meeting – two federations came to us with a request to host their competition.”