Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov claimed there was a political campaign against Russia and cited “discrimination” against clean athletes not connected to doping.
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The two global sports bodies are at odds over an investigation that revealed state-orchestrated Russian doping which left the International Olympic Committee scrambling for a response.
Russian boxers, tennis players, judokas and shooters were among those given the last-minute approval by an IOC panel set up to review the eligibility of all Russian athletes previously cleared to compete by their worldwide federations.
The International Boxing Association says all 11 of Russia’s boxers who qualified for the Rio Games have been cleared to participate following a doping review for all Russian athletes.
An Olympic gold is the only major honour missing from Djokovic’s glittering CV but he could be given a stern opening test by 2009 US Open champion Del Potro, who is returning to his best after injury problems.
Djokovic hinted at what many in sport feel – that Zika is a convenient cover story for players who are concerned over the lack of ranking points at an event which also cuts into schedules geared specifically towards the US Open, the season’s final major, in NY just one week after the Games conclude. CAS said the rule “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice”. In a statement to The Associated Press, the Russians refuted the police report.
The appeals of Yulia Efimova, a London bronze medallist, and Daria Ustinova were still pending, with Efimova’s case being heard on Thursday morning.
CAS rejected the athletes’ appeal to be granted direct entry into the games, saying it was now up to the global rowing and swimming federations to decide whether to let them in or not.
Olympics chief Thomas Bach called for a complete overhaul of the global anti-doping system after revelations of state-backed cheating by Russian Federation rocked preparations for the Rio Games.
This is my third Olympic Games and it is a very special competition for me. “I think this is absolutely unfair”.
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“This blanket ban of the Russian Olympic Committee has been called by some the “nuclear option” and that innocent athletes would have to be considered as collateral damage”, he said. This is destroying justice. “We had to respect basic principles of natural law”.
