The 2002 Russian Indoor Athletics Championships () was the 11th edition of the national championship in indoor track and field for Russia. It was held on 12âÂÂ14 February at the VGAFK Stadium in Volgograd. A total of 28 events (14 for men and 14 for women) were contested over the three-day competition. It was used for selection of the Russian team for the 2002 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Two indoor events were contested in Moscow, separately from the main championships. An indoor 6-hour run was held on 1âÂÂ2 February and the combined events were held from 3âÂÂ5 February.
Natalya Cherepanova set a world indoor best for the women's 3000 metres steeplechase with 9:38.30. Vyacheslav Shabunin set a championship record of 3:40.88 to win the men's 1500 metres. Yekaterina Puzanova won an 800 metres/1500 m double on the women's side. Sergey Ivanov broke the championship record with a time of 7:57.53 minutes in the men's 3000 metres.
On July 30, 2002, the IAAF in its monthly newsletter announced the disqualification of Russian hurdler Evgeny Pechonkin for 2 years. In his doping sample, taken as part of out-of-competition control on February 10, 2002, the prohibited drug norandrosterone was found. In accordance with the rules, all the athlete's results from the moment of sampling were annulled, including his win at the Russian Indoor Championship with a result of 7.63.
The Russian 6-Hour Run Indoor Championships was held over 1âÂÂ2 February in Moscow at the Krylatskoye Sports Complex Velodrome. The competition was held as part of the second Moscow Night Supermarathon. 42 athletes (30 men and 12 women) from 16 regions of the country started the race. Aleksey Belosludtsev and Marina Bychkova set new Russian records of 91,017 metres and 74,475 metres, respectively.
The Russian Combined Events Indoor Championships was held from 3 to 5 February at the Znamensky Brothers Olympic Center in Moscow.
As a result of the championships, the following athletes were selected for Russia at the 2002 European Athletics Indoor Championships:
<sup>â </sup> Had exemption for selection and allowed not to compete at the national championships
<sup>â¡</sup> Later withdrew from the international competition