The Russian Paralympic Committee had challenged the ban from next month’s Games issued by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for failing to ensure compliance with its anti-doping code.
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Evidence of a state-sponsored doping programme persuaded the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to exclude all Russian competitors from the Rio de Janeiro Games, which begin two weeks today.
Russian athletes were permitted to compete at the Rio Olympic Games if their sport’s governing body allowed them, but the International Paralympic Committee has taken a tougher stance.
According to the Committee their decision to give an all out ban “was proportionate in the circumstances”.
After its athletes battled waves of controversy in the recently-held 2016 Rio Olympics, another group of Russian athletes is facing the consequences of the country’s alleged widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Medvedev, however, said on Facebook in Russian the decision showed “a number of states and their political and sports establishments were looking for a traditional enemy and found it once again”.
Despite the ban, Russian Federation nonetheless attempted to overturn the ruling through an appeal.
He added: “Doping is, unfortunately, used in all countries and in nearly all sports”.
“Disgusting attitude”: Russian Paralympic Committee president Vladimir Lukin had sought to portray his athletes as independent from the Moscow government.
On Tuesday, Craven said the ruling was a “sad day for the Paralympic Movement, but we hope also a new beginning”.
Instead, the International Olympic Committee asked individual sports governing bodies to decide if Russian teams and athletes could compete. Russia’s weightlifting team was banned and only one track and field athlete, who trained in the USA out of the Russian testing system, was ruled eligible.
Russia ended up placing fourth overall in the medal standings, including winning 19 gold medals, finishing behind only the United States, Great Britain, and China; Russia finished fourth in the 2012 Games as well, with no bans placed on it.
Medvedev suggested Russia’s strength as a competitor was a factor in the blanket ban.
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“One certainly sees in this decision a striving of some leaders of the global Paralympic movement to eliminate strong rivals since our team always won top spots”, the former state president wrote.
