The bombshell revelations about Russia’s state-sponsored doping scandal have overshadowed the start of the Games.
Advertisement
Like all Olympic host cities before, Rio is getting a lot of flak on a range of pre-Games issues, such as not being fully prepared, to filthy water that, it is claimed, will affect competitors in the aquatic events, to uncomfortable accommodation for athletes.
The panel will receive independent advice from the Court of Arbitration for Sport before making its decisions.
The IWF announced yesterday that they were following the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and that none of Russia’s eight weightlifters would be allowed to compete at Rio 2016.
More than 100 Russian athletes have been banned from the Rio Games, including the country’s entire track and field team.
“This panel will decide whether to accept or reject that final proposal”, International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said.
“If any Member Federation or members or officials thereof, by reason of conduct connected with or associated with doping or anti-doping rule violations, brings the sport of weightlifting into disrepute, the IWF Executive Board may, in its discretion, take such action as it deems fit to protect the reputation and integrity of the sport”. Apart from that, the International Olympic Committee ruled than no Russian athlete who has ever been sanctioned for doping will be allowed to take part in the Rio Olympics, even if they have served the sanction.
The IOC has been roundly criticized by anti-doping bodies, athletes groups and Western media for not imposing a total ban on Russian Federation.
A mist of light clouds softened the afternoon light, giving the athletes who come from harrowing backgrounds a heavenly glimpse of one of the world’s most lovely cities, with its golden sand beaches, blue ocean and lush green Atlantic rain forest below.
Russia had originally planned to send a 387-person team, but that has steadily been reduced as federations removed those who had previously served doping bans and those implicated in World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren’s report alleging a massive cover-up of failed drug tests. The games come with the president awaiting an impeachment trial and the country gripped by a severe recession. “As (Brazilian writer) Nelson Rodrigues used to say, in Maracana (stadium) even the moment of silence gets booed”, Temer told local media on a visit to Porto Alegre, ahead of South America’s first Olympics, which he will open at the fabled football pitch.
At the US training camp on Friday, Felix said she doesn’t think she’ll ever get past the disappointment of not getting to go for the 200-400 double, but she’s focused on the task at hand.
Lohalith made it clear this was not how she imagined competing while she was training.
Team ROA will compete under the International Olympic Committee flag, but in all other aspects will be treated as any other team and is slated to march in the opening ceremony, before host team Brazil.
Advertisement
Also Saturday, the IOC board granted full recognition to the International Ski Mountaineering Federation. Saturday’s decision marks another step toward potential future inclusion in the Winter Games.
