Drone Attack in Yekaterinburg: Russian Athletics Championship Halted

In a period where the International Athletics Federation maintains its restrictions on Russian athletes, the Russian Athletics Championship in Yekaterinburg was halted due to an unexpected drone attack. The Russian Athletics Federation announced that the championship was suspended due to the drone attack. Federation officials stated, 'The safety of all participants, including athletes, spectators, coaches, and referees, is our priority.' Following the suspension, the stadium announcer called on all participants to proceed to the underground shelters. Updates on whether the competitions will continue will be shared later. This development coincides with a period where Russian athletes are banned from international competitions. The IOC Executive Board had previously lifted its recommendations to restrict Russian athletes' participation in events. Estonia and eight other countries appealed to the EU's sports commissioner, Glenn Micallef, to cease funding for sports organizations that allow Russian athletes to participate in competitions.