Moscow, Aug 13 (IANS): Russian Athletics Federation, known as RusAF, has confirmed that they have paid the $6.3 million fine with the help from country's sports ministry in order to avoid expulsion from the World Athletics.

RusAF said in a statement on Wednesday that it had paid the World Athletics the fine "in the full amount" and they agree with a policy of "zero tolerance on doping", and they are looking for "an opportunity to begin the process of reinstating membership in World Athletics", reports Xinhua news agency.

"World Athletics can confirm it has today received the funds to settle RusAF's two outstanding payments," World Athletics said in a statement.

World Athletics announced in late July that it would expel RusAF if it does not make the outstanding payments of a $5 million fine and $1.31 million in costs for breaching anti-doping rules before August 15.

The RusAF was fined $10 million in March, with half of that sum suspended. It has already missed the first deadline to pay on July 1, and then the World Athletics governing body decided to put on hold the process of granting Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) status for Russian athletes who want to compete internationally.

The Russian athletics has been suspended since 2015, and its athletes missed the 2016 Rio Olympics.