Prof. Dodoo leads group to redefine Russia, Belarus in global athletics
Former Ghana athletics Chief, Prof. Francis Dodoo, has been appointed to chair an advisory group to look into the operations of the Russia and Belarus athletics associations in international competitions and events because of the current sanctions the two countries are facing regarding their participation in major competitions such as the Olympic Games.
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At the World Athletics Council meeting in Monaco last week, some far-reaching decisions were taken that promise to redefine the sport, including the role of Prof. Dodoo's group, which includes Beatrice Ayikoru, Anna Riccardi, Ami Baran and Lea Sprunger.
It will advise the World Athletics Council on the effectiveness and relevance of the prevailing sanctions regime, as well as consider the conditions and criteria for future participation of Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials of the two federation officials at World Athletics events and the Olympics.
Since stepping down in 2020 as President of Ghana Athletics, Prof. Dodoo has held important positions at World Athletics and is currently the head of the Governance Commission of the sport's world governing body.
The commission is tasked with improving and upholding the highest integrity, promoting better governance and ethical compliance standards for the sport.
In his address, World Athletics President Sebastian Cole celebrated the triumph of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest and said he looked forward to 2024 as a year of transformative decisions that would propel athletics to new heights.
“The year 2024 is going to be one of change. In a decade from now, I want people to look back at 2024 and say the decisions the sport made that year not only future-proofed athletics but significantly accelerated its popularity and value,” Sir Cole said.
In addition to Dodoo's advisory group, other working groups were formed, such as the Working Group on Gender Diverse Athletes, headed by Doriane Coleman. This expert advisory body will keep abreast of developments in law, science, sports and society concerning gender-diverse athletes, ensuring World Athletics stays aligned with its core commitments.
The meeting also delved into crucial matters, approving a Human Rights Policy as part of World Athletics' broader Human Rights Strategy, a policy which underscores the organisation's commitment to respecting internationally proclaimed human rights, promoting equality, and using the power of sport to drive positive change.
The Safeguarding Taskforce, with an update presented during the meeting, showcased progress in updating the World Athletics Safeguarding Policy. This includes plans for safeguarding materials, events, and the rollout of the World Athletics Safeguarding Essentials course, reinforcing the commitment to athlete well-being.
The World Athletics Council approved the 2024 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to be held on April 21 in Antalya, Turkey, with the 2024 World Athletics U-20 Championships coming off in the Peruvian capital of Lima from August 27-31.
Furthermore, the meeting also approved that seeding for the first round of relay competition at the Paris Olympic Games be determined at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas competition will automatically qualify 14 teams for Paris, with the top eight teams in the Bahamas finals used as a determinant for first-round seeding rights to the best lanes for Paris 2024.
