The Russian Olympic Committee had submitted an original entry list of 389 athletes but that has been significantly reduced by 118 after global federations were asked, by the IOC, to individually assess the anti-doping record of each Russian athlete. Overall, more than 100 Russians have been excluded, including 67 in track and field.
Advertisement
Instead of a total ban, the International Olympic Committee gave the individual sports federation the free hand to conduct their own drug tests and concur with the IOC’s three-man panel to determine if the Russian athletes would be allowed to compete in the games.
Bach added that beginning with the Olympics in Brazil the responsibility of imposing penalties on athletes guilty of doping abuse would rest with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne instead of the IOC.
A total of 271 Russian athletes were cleared to take part in the Rio Olympics, Alexander Zhukov, president of the Russian Olympics Committee, told reporters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.
WADA has also told Fairfax reports that the names of Russian athletes were shared with sports federations without evidence of them doping are “inaccurate and entirely misleading”.
Zhukov also said it was unfair that Russian sports stars such as double Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva would now watch the Games from home while past doping offenders including top U.S. runner Justin Gatlin took to the field.
In deciding to leave the fates of Russian athletes up to the individual sports, rather than imposing a full ban, “The IOC knows there’s simply not enough time for the federations to make a determination”. Those athletes are from Russian national teams of volleyball, handball, boxing, table tennis, synchronised swimming and equestrian.
Gymnast Aliya Mustafina, who won four medals in London, is clear to compete.
The HOC has sent a team of 97 to the Brazilian city for the first Games to be held in South America.
Rio de Janeiro: The World Anti-Doping Agency, target of stinging attacks from Olympic chiefs in a drug controversy-fuelled countdown to the Rio Games, has hit back at claims it has overblown the extent of doping in Russian Federation.
“The numbers reflect that”, said the NBC Sports advertising head, Seth Winters.
With only Russia’s athletics, rowing and weightlifting hopes seriously dented, it is still possible that Russian Federation will finish third in the medal table behind the United States and China.
“That process is now complete and confirmation has been received from the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Review Panel that the following 11 Russian boxers are eligible to compete at Rio 2016”.
Del Potro’s ranking has fallen to 145th after he endured three operations on his left wrist.
“I am thinking about it [flying to Rio de Janeiro]”.
Advertisement
In the women’s draw, top-ranked Serena Williams, the reigning gold medalist, could face her older sister, Venus, in the semifinals.
