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Russian Athletes Can’t Compete Independently at Paralympics, Authorities Say

The findings of Professor McLaren (which were not disputed by the Russian Paralympic Committee) exposed a longstanding and sophisticated State-controlled doping program in Russian sport (including Para sport).

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Russian Federation appealed against the CAS ruling to the Swiss Federal Court, which declined on Wednesday to issue a preliminary injunction that would have let their disabled athletes compete in Rio.

The 2016 Summer Paralympics, a major global multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities is going to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September.

Fiji Paralympics team ready for 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in RioBy Rusiate Baleilevuka Friday 02/09/2016Team Fiji athletes Mere Roden (left) and Epeli Baleibau.

“Tragically, however, the Russian authorities have denied their athletes this chance through their actions”.

The decision of the IPC to intervene also follows the inability of the organisers of the Games in Rio, to provide travel grants to participating countries due to hard economic conditions and low purchase of event tickets.

Artyom Patsev, a Russian sports lawyer, has said on the court’s decision that is was predictable and it was senseless for Russia to file an appeal.

Nevertheless, the IPC decided on collectively punishing the Russian national team.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, several of the individual requests have now been moved onto the CAS.

“We have received a relevant notification from the post office company, which executed the delivery”.

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An appeal against the ban was dismissed by CAS in Switzerland on August 23, drawing a furious response from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who decried the suspension as “outside the law, morality, humanity”. He said, the people of country will be enthusiastically cheering for them.

Bruno Domingos