The decision came after a report was delivered earlier in the summer by the Independent Commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) alleging a state-run doping programme for Russian athletes, reports Tass.
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Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected an Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) appeal against the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) ban on Russia’s participation in the September 7-18 Rio Paralympics. “Their licenses have been distributed among athletes of other countries by means unknown for us”, said Rahimov at a press conference in Baku on August 31.
“Azerbaijan obtained three licenses. But we haven’t earned these licenses”, he added.
Putin said the decision to bar Russian athletes, including those who had not tested positive for any banned substances, was a vivid manifestation “of how the humanistic foundations of sport and Olympism are shamelessly flouted by politics”.
The IPC went further than the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which stopped short of a blanket ban on Russia at this month’s Rio Olympics and left the decision instead in the hands of international sports federations.
“I cannot understand how it was possible to distribute these licenses among other countries without a court decision?” asked Rahimov. Paralympic is a major worldwide multisport event which gives athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities, a chance to reach for the stars.
The decision to exclude Russia’s team means at least 260 competitors from the country are now set to miss the September 7-18 Paralympics.
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“Support this campaign and the world can invite thousands of Brazilian children to marvel at these awesome athletes and experience the power of Paralympic sport”. Allianz, a long-term supporter of the Paralympic movement, pledged called Nugent personally and committed $90,000 to the cause, enough for 3,000 tickets for children and people with disabilities in Brazil to attend the Games. The same year, two Azerbaijani paralympans joined the 10th Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, the U.S.
