Russia’s attempt to overturn a ban on its track and field team competing at the Rio Olympics due to state-organised doping has been rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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That decision, made by the world’s highest sports tribunal, could pave the way for the International Olympic Committee to impose a blanket ban on all Russian athletes over a massive, state-sponsored doping program.
“If the International Olympic Committee refuses to allow Russian competitors to go to the Olympics, I don’t see any point any more in continuing training”, Isinbayeva said in an online video on social networking site VK, quoted by RIA Novosti state news agency.
Russia’s participation in Rio is hanging in the balance after the International Olympics Committee said on Tuesday it would “explore legal options” for banning the country from the Games.
According to the IOC statement, the organisation “put special measures in place such as targeted pre-tests of identified sports and countries” with the main aim “to provide a level playing field for all clean athletes at the Olympic Games Rio 2016”.
On Friday, President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian Olympic Committee could launch an independent anti-doping commission.
The International Weightlifting Federation is on the verge of confirming that Russia’s weightlifters will be banned from Rio, along with those from Belarus, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.
The IOC meets on Sunday to decide whether the Russian delegation should be excluded from the Olympic Games for widespread drug cheating. WADA also suspends Russia’s national anti-doping body.
Isinbayeva, who took gold in Athens and Beijing before finishing third at London 2012, had lofty expectations for Rio, but is now contemplating calling it a day if the IOC’s final decision – expected this week – follows the prevailing trend.
“It’s a sad situation for everyone who loves sport, especially those Russian athletes who were abused and harmed by their leader’s actions ― but it’s the right outcome”, US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement.
Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, who was commissioned by WADA, issued a scathing report Monday that accused Russia’s Sports Ministry of orchestrating a doping system that affected 28 summer and winter Olympic sports.
“The principle of collective responsibility is hardly acceptable”, Peskov said.
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Narromine product and three-time Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor has backed the calls for Russian Federation to be banned from the upcoming Rio Olympics.
