IAAF council member Abby Hoffman says Russia operating outside the rules

Scott Russell spoke with IAAF Council member Abby Hoffman about her reaction to the provisional suspension of Russia from international competition in athletics.

'This is just something we have to do,' IAAF council member tells Scott Russell

Scott Russell talks with IAAF Council member Abby Hoffman

9 years ago
Duration 4:20
Hoffman speaks about Russia's suspension and what caused it

Banning Russian athletes from international competition is "just something we have to do" if the sport of track and field is to continue to be attractive to athletes, spectators and sponsors, said International Association of Athletics Federations Council member Abby Hoffman on Saturday during an interview with CBC's Scott Russell.

On Friday the council voted 22-1 to place a provisional ban on Russian athletes in the sport of track and field, potentially barring them from competing in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, an unprecedented decision.

"Clearly the Russian federation for track and field has been operating outside the parameters of our rules with respect to ethics in general and anti-doping in particular," said Hoffman, a four-time Olympian for Canada who was elected to the council in 1995.

Click on the video player above to see the entire interview.