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The federation was suspended in 2015 after a
report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found
evidence of mass doping among track and field athletes.
It paid a multi-million-dollar fine in August to avoid expulsion
by World Athletics, the sport's international governing body.
The World Athletics Council in September granted the federation
a six-month extension to finalise its reinstatement plan before
World Athletics decides on potential fresh sanctions or even
expulsion. The federation now has until March 1, 2021.
The federation's troubles have snowballed in recent months, with
some of its officials and senior coaches embroiled in doping
scandals.
The process by which Russian athletes had in the past been
cleared to compete internationally despite the federation's
suspension was halted in March.
World Athletics has said the status of this procedure would be
considered by its council when it convenes later this week.
The federation's handling of the crisis has angered some of
Russia's top athletes, including three-time world high jump
champion Maria Lasitskene, who has been among its most vocal
critics.
Separately, Russia has appealed a four-year ban on its athletes
competing at major international events under the country's flag
as punishment for having provided the World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) with doctored laboratory data.
The Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is
expected to rule on Russia's appeal by the end of the year.
(Reporting by Maxim Shemetov, Alexander Reshetnikov and
Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; writing by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber
and Polina Devitt; editing by Ken Ferris)
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