The members of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at a meeting in Lausanne with the heads of international sports federations expressed their respect for the decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) not to allow the Russian athletics team to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
It follows from the words of IOC President Thomas Bach that the IAAF will allow athletes from countries that are accused of systemic doping – Russia and Kenya – to participate in the games on an individual basis. After such a check, an athlete who has not been previously noticed in abuses will be able to compete under the flag of his country, and not under the white Olympic flag. Also, all those involved in doping matters, including coaches and doctors, will not be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics, Bach said.
During a conversation with reporters, the IOC President noted that accusations of Russian athletes in the use of doping at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 still remain “speculations.” He recommended to wait for the release of the corresponding report, the BBC sports correspondent said. Richard Conway.
“Taking into account the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on vicious practices in Russia and Kenya and the corresponding evidentiary charges, the IOC considers the“ presumption of innocence ”of athletes from these countries to be seriously compromised. Therefore, each sports federation will individually admit or deny these athletes competitions … The absence of a positive national doping test for these purposes should not be considered sufficient, “the IOC resolution says.
On Friday 17 June in Vienna, the IAAF Council upheld the suspension of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF), which does not give Russian athletes the opportunity to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games as a team. On June 15, WADA published another report on doping violations in Russia. The document said that from February 15 to May 29, 2016, WADA specialists were unable to carry out 736 checks planned in Russia, while meldonium was found in 49 doping tests of Russian athletes. According to the agency, Russian athletes prevent doping tests, FSB officers influence WADA representatives.
The Russian Olympic Committee considers the IAAF’s decision to be unfair, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov said today at the IOC summit in Lausanne. “We are extremely saddened by the IAAF’s decision to remove Russian athletes from international competitions, including the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. We consider this decision unfair, violating the rights of the overwhelming majority of Russian athletes, who have never resorted to the use of doping and did not violate any rules, “Zhukov said.
“Russian athletes who have never violated anti-doping rules, as well as ARAF, will apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in order to protect the interests and rights of all athletes who have proven their purity and non-involvement in the use of prohibited substances and methods,” Zhukov said.
The State Duma also adopted a statement according to which the ARAF’s collective responsibility is unfair and violates human rights. The deputies recognized the suspension of a particular athlete on sufficient, proven grounds as a just and deserved punishment.
.