Russia has lost its appeal against a ban stopping its track and field athletes from competing at the 2016 Olympics.
The appeal came in response to a sanction handed out by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in November 2015. Russian track and field athletes had been banned from competition for the duration of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) investigation that looked into whether Russian athletes were doping.
Russia has lost its appeal against a ban stopping its track and field athletes from competing at #Rio2016 #Olympics https://t.co/i1pIY09Stg
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 21, 2016
Earlier this week, a report from the investigation was published, stating that dozens of Russian athletes took part in a state sponsored doping programme that saw a drug tests doctored and manipulated.
In response to the findings, WADA and others asked the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee to ban Russia entirely from the Rio Games – a request which is now most likely for the ban.
As a result, 68 Russian track and field athletes will be forbidden from competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month.
In response to the ruling, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko called the move regretful. “Unfortunately, a certain precedent has been established for collective responsibility,” he said.
“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,” said IAAF president Sebastian Coe 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.”
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