Part of the International Olympic Committee’s ban on Russian athletes – specifically, the decision to bar any Russians from competition who have been caught for doping but accepted punishment and complied with sanctions – is “unenforceable”, according to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
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The IOC opted not to ban all Russian athletes from the Rio Olympics after revelations of a wide state-backed doping programme across many sports.
But in a statement, she and her husband Vitaly, a former Russian anti-doping official, said they believed the International Olympic Committee had discretion to invite anyone it chose to the Games.
Russian Federation will have 271 athletes competing at the Rio Olympics, the International Olympic Committee announced Thursday.
“On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic Village”.
Several global federations announced separately that they had received final approval for Russian entries, including boxing, judo, equestrian, volleyball, golf and gymnastics.
A similar rule by the British Olympic Association to ban the nation’s drugs cheats from Olympic participation for life was also rejected by CAS ahead of the 2012 London Games, allowing sprinter Dwain Chambers to race. WADA had called for a complete ban on Russian Federation from the Rio Games.
They do not include track and field athletes and weightlifters, who were banned for doping offences.
Sailing’s world body said it had cancelled a ban against Russian 470 class contender Pavel Sozykin because of the new instructions.
“The IOC Decision deprives the Russian athletes of the presumption of innocence and rather establishes a presumption of guilt”, CAS said in a news release.
“I respect every athlete who may have anther opinion but I can look straightforward into his or her eyes because we have taken our decision with a very good conscience”, said Bach.
“All five riders have been tested and we did individual analysis of their anti-doping history, which we submitted to the IOC”.
Russian Federation will be represented by 279 athletes at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
The CAS decision could force other federations, who were asked by the International Olympic Committee to recommend which Russians could compete, to reconsider their lists.
In Rio, Portugal defeated two-time Olympic champion Argentina 2-0 and Honduras edged Algeria 3-2 in Group D action.
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In the jungle city of Manaus, Colombia and Sweden drew 2-2 in Group B. In Group C, defending champion Mexico drew 2-2 with Germany despite twice having the lead in the northeastern city of Salvador.
