“The systematic doping that has been ongoing in Russian Federation – it’s hard to pick the clean athletes”, he said.
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“If there are individual athletes who can clearly and convincingly show that they are not tainted by the Russian system because they have been outside the country, and subject to other, strong anti-doping systems, including effective drug testing, then there should be a process through which they can apply for permission to compete in worldwide competitions, not for Russia, but as a neutral athlete”, Coe said. As The Two-Way has reported, the suspension came after an independent commission found evidence of state-sponsored doping.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday upheld its decision to suspend the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) in light of the doping conspiracy that surfaced in 2012 at the Summer Olympics in London.
French authorities have said about 150 hard-core Russian fans took part in serious violence around the England-Russia game in Marseilles last weekend.
“To try and ensure all athletes are competing in a clean environment at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the IPC has doubled the budget for pre-Paralympic testing to ensure greater focus on certain countries and territories”. However, given the massive level of doping in Russian Federation there are obviously problems with this approach.
“I’m disappointed and angry”, Isinbayeva said.
“There were no and there can not be any kind support for violations in sport, moreover of doping violations at a state level in Russian Federation”.
On Saturday the IOC, which is to meet in Lausanne on Tuesday, said in a statement: “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomes and supports the IAAF’s strong stance against doping”.
“The crack in the door is quite narrow and there won’t be many who manage to get through that crack in the door”, said Rune Andersen, the Norwegian anti-doping expert who headed the IAAF task force that determined that Russia’s reforms were not enough. “I am offended, first on my personal behalf and on behalf of the team of clean athletes who are no longer in action”.
It’s unlikely the IOC would allow an admitted doper to compete under the Olympic flag, so another solution would have to be found.
The appeal does not have the blessing of the Russian track and field federation, which says it has yet to receive the full text of the IAAF’s decision.
The statement added: “We hold this decision as symbolic that the voices of the clean athletes have been heard”.
To its credit, IAAF said individual Russian athletes could compete if they prove they have been training outside of the Russian system without the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Outspoken Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the IAAF should be “dissolved” and accused athletics’ governing body of failing to take “responsibility” for doping that is roiling the sport.
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IAAF president Lord Coe said “no politics” were involved in the decision over Russia’s ban. “I will appeal to the human rights court”. Do they care I wonder? It appealed to the International Olympic Committee to “consider the impact that our athletes’ exclusion will have on the dreams and the people of Russian Federation”. “But when you question our system that way, it paints a shadow over who she is and what she’s about when it comes to being a clean athlete”.
