Today, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), the governing body of Olympic Weightlifting, chose to ban the Russian Weightlifting Federation from having Athletes and Technical Officials participate in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
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In doing so, the federation pointed to the multiple cases of doping by the country’s weightlifters.
Per the Press Association (via the Guardian), the International Olympic Committee decided against a complete ban on Russian athletes after a lengthy investigation into doping allegations and instead left the decision up to the federations.
No track and field athletes were among the contingent heading for Rio, since the entire track team is banned from competing, except for a single USA -based long jumper, following revelations of widespread doping.
A reception was hosted at the Kremlin on Thursday for around 100 members of Russia’s Olympic squad, during which President Vladimir Putin called the ban “open discrimination” and an “attempt to bring the rules of world politics into sport”.
Valentin, who will compete at next month’s Games in Rio, finished fourth in 2012 in the Women’s -75kg category.
The criteria states that only if they have not previously failed a drugs test and can prove they are clean and not associated with the country’s doping regime are Russian athletes eligible to take part in the Games.
The International Olympic Committee has set up a special unit to monitor any illegal betting, match-fixing or other illegal activity during the games in Rio de Janeiro.
The tournament was held on Thursday at the Znamensky Brothers Stadium, with the participation of about 135 athletes, including those banned from Rio. “They’re not letting [our athletes] compete for political reasons”.
They were among seven Russians banned by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) last week after the order was published.
Rejecting calls for a blanket ban on Russia, the International Olympic Committee decided on July 24 that individual sports federations should investigate athletes implicated in the report and decide who should be excluded.
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And although 11 Russian boxers could be allowed to compete alongside the 12-strong British team in Brazil, Nicola Adams and others are not allowing the uncertainty to disrupt their preparations. Meanwhile in Moscow, Russia’s sports minister said on Saturday that the national team to compete in the Rio Olympics starting next week so far has 266 competitors, although decisions were still pending on several athletes.
