The ban on Russia’s track and field athletes competing at the Olympic games has been upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decided to suspend Russia’s athletics federation after a report discovered evidence of widespread doping during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Russian government supported widespread doping in Olympic sports, Wada claim https://t.co/eEkkrCHbuV
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 18, 2016
68 Russian athletes and the Russian Olympic Committee appealed that decision but the CAS ruled on Thursday that the ban could stand.
“While we are thankful that our rules and our power to uphold our rules and the anti doping code have been supported, this is not a day for triumphant statements,” IAAF President Sebastian Coe said in a statement. “I didn’t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing. It is our federation’s instinctive desire to include, not exclude. Beyond Rio the IAAF Taskforce will continue to work with Russia to establish a clean safe environment for its athletes so that its federation and team can return to international recognition and competition.”
The International Olympic Committee is still considering calls to implement a blanket ban on all Russian athletes competing in Rio but the IOC were awaiting today’s CAS verdict.
Rio 2016’s opening ceremony is just over a fortnight away but it’s looking increasingly likely that Russia will not be represented in any capacity at the Games if the IOC follows maintains the harsh stance shown by the CAS.
