Russian Federation says its taekwondo team has been approved to compete at the Rio Olympics against the backdrop of the country’s doping scandal.
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The federation chose to organise the three-hour competition after the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week rejected athletes’ appeals against the IAAF ban.
Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller announced on Wednesday that the balance had been tipped by the eight female rowers who were invited to compete after Russian athletes in the same event were banned.
Instead of an outright ban on Russian participation, as the World Anti-Doping Agency had urged, the IOC will impose a convoluted case-by-case review of Russian athletes, carried out by the 28 worldwide federations that govern each Olympic sport. “I am grateful to the majority of our sports federations that meticulously defended our athletes’ rights”, he said. It said the punishment was an “appropriate sanction” to “preserve the status of the sport”. Because of the lateness of the decision, the IWF said it was not clear whether all the spots would be filled.
Most Russian track and field stars, including world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov and high jumper Maria Kuchina, competed in yesterday’s meet, which was topped off by a surprise appearance by sports minister Vitaly Mutko. That could potentially send the 19 to Rio days before the games start, if the case is heard and approved in time.
The justice department said the indictment against Chaer Kalaun, 28, a Brazilian of Lebanese descent, was sealed, but had been filed under anti-terrorism laws.
In another worry for Olympic organizers, Rio metro employees threatened Thursday to go on strike on the eve of the Games if they do not get a almost 10% salary increase, raising the possibility of transport chaos for some 500,000 tourists expected to attend.
IOC President Thomas Bach, however, announced on Sunday that Russian athletes, with the exception of field and track competitors, were allowed to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics based on individual approval of each respective worldwide sports federation or association.
There was good news for Russia on Friday when the Russian Taekwondo Union said it had received notification from the World Taekwondo Federation that all three of its entries could compete in Rio.
Isinbayeva had applied again for an individual exemption but was refused by the IAAF, track’s world governing body.
“They didn’t admit me for the Olympics in Rio”.
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“This review panel will look at every single decision of every single athlete to make sure that the International Olympic Committee is happy with the decision that’s been taken, that they’ve made all of these different levels of steps and that the decision by the ICAS arbitrator is also putting that forward. The miracle didn’t happen”.
