Russia loses appeal, Olympic track team status hangs in the balance
Could Russia鈥檚 track-and-field team be the first to be banned from the Olympics? In a last ditch effort, a was filed by the Russian Olympic Committee on behalf of 68 athletes on Monday. On Thursday,聽the Court of Arbitration for Sport that appeal.
The Russian track team was prohibited from the Olympics in November when the Olympic National Committee was informed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) of a Russian conspiracy between coaches, athletes, and former leaders of the International Association of Athletic Federations to cover up positive drug test results.
The Olympic National Committee will make its final decision on Sunday, but said 鈥淭he will have to be decided by his or her International Federation (IF) based on an individual analysis of his or her international antidoping record鈥� in a statement issued Tuesday. Two Russian athletes who were tested for doping elsewhere have been approved to compete: long jumper Darya Klishina and runner Yuliya Stepanova.
The Russian team was given a second chance to change their methods, after the WADA report was released, David Iaconangelo reported for 海角大神.
Upon the report鈥檚 release, the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) blacklisted the national team and warned that unless Russia undertook profound reforms of its anti-doping checks, it would be banned from the Rio games. In mid-June, the WADA took another look and again found more of the same, leading the IAAF to issue a unanimous decision banning Russian track and field athletes from competing in international competitions, saying the testing system was 鈥榯ainted by doping from the top level and down.鈥欌��
Emotions about the decision are mixed. "While we are thankful that our rules and our power to uphold our rules and the anti-doping code have been supported, this is ,鈥� said IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe, according to RT News.
鈥淲e can only express our deep regrets,鈥� Kremlin presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, said, responding to the appeal denial, according to RT News. Similarly, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko expressed remorse, but no surprise, 鈥淲hen the IOC vice-president says that Russian athletes have nothing to do at the Olympics 鈥� it鈥檚 certainly a signal.鈥�
Despite the denial of their appeal, the Russian team continues to plan and prepare for the Olympics under the assumption that the 68 members of the track-and-field team will compete with the rest of the 319-strong team, Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said on Wednesday at an ROC meeting, according to the Associated Press.
