After an extensive report condemned Russia for orchestrating a state-sponsored doping programme across a variety of sports, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) then came under-fire for failing to ban all Russian athletes from Rio 2016.
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The UCI has revealed it is in the process of identifying samples of three Russian Olympic cyclists potentially implicated in the McLaren doping report to determine whether they can compete in Rio next month.
But now its time to drop all doubts: the Russian team will take part in the Olympic Games.
With regard to other sports, United World Wrestling (UWW) has cleared 16 of Russia’s 17-strong team for Rio.
A statement from UWW’s special commission said: “Sixteen of the 17 Russian wrestlers entered to compete at the Olympic Games are cleared to be considered for acceptance by the International Olympic Committee/Court of Arbitration for Sport”.
London Games gold medallist Alexander Dyachenko, Andrey Kraitor, Alexey Korovashkov along with Elena Aniushina and Natalia Podolskaia have been banned.
With so many criticisms, the Olympics Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games redoubled efforts to make the Village “impeccable”.
GOLF – Awaiting decision on one Russian golfer. On Wednesday night, government employees angry over delayed salary payments took to the streets in Angra dos Reis, a city near Rio de Janeiro, and confronted the procession carrying one of the Olympic torches.
With the goal of providing a new way to engage young people, fans and new audiences in the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Channel is a free platform that will present original programming, live sports events, news and highlights offering additional exposure for sports and athletes all year round. “Clearly, the absence of Russian athletes, who were leaders in some of the sports, will affect the competition”.
Officials gave little detail about the arrest, which comes a week after 12 men were arrested on accusations of forming a cell to discuss potential attacks at the time of the Rio Olympics and swearing loyalty to Islamic State. The governing bodies of swimming and rowing have banned seven and three Russians, respectively – all for past doping offenses.
In fencing, Heo Jun in men’s foil is the lone South Korean in Rio, and he got in some weight training in on Thursday. The president on Wednesday called the charges unproven and said the suspension from Rio was “open discrimination”.
SAILING – World Sailing has provisionally confirmed the participation of six athletes from Russian Federation for the Games. Pavel Sozykin was the lone athlete banned from competing in Rio.
TAEKWONDO – Three Russians have qualified for Rio but await a decision from the World Taekwondo Federation.
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The IOC has been criticized for not imposing a blanket ban on Russia – by WADA, by Western media, by athletes denied medals by Russian rivals now under a cloud of suspicion.
