Russia says it can’t afford to pay fine to World Athletics

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia is expected to miss the deadline to pay a $5 million fine to the governing body of track and field. Russian track federation president Yevgeny Yurchenko tells the Tass state news agency that the money “has not been found.” World Athletics could suspend the “authorized neutral athlete” program as a result. That program allows Russians to enter international competitions even though their federation is suspended. Russians with that status won six medals at last year’s world championships. Yurchenko says World Athletics should take into account the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.