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Russia to appeal blanket ban on weightlifting team
MOSCOW: Russia will immediately appeal the decision to ban all eight of its weightlifters from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for doping.
MOSCOW: Russia will immediately appeal the decision to ban all eight of its weightlifters from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for doping.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told Match TV on Saturday that the country will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport this weekend.
The International Weightlifting Federation issued the ban on Friday for what it called “extremely shocking” results that brought the sport into “disrepute.”
The ban on the entire weightlifting team came as a huge blow for the nation as it became the second sport after track and field to receive a blanket ban for doping by Russian athletes. Other sports have banned individual Russians but not all of the eligible athletes.
IOC MEET TO DISCUSS RUSSIA FATE
RIO DE JANEIRO: The International Olympic Committee’s ruling executive board opened a two-day meeting on Saturday, its last formal gathering before next Friday night’s opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium.
The meeting comes less than a week after the IOC board decided not to ban Russia’s entire team from the games because of state-sponsored doping.
Bach has defended the decision as protecting individual athletes from collective punishment.
SWIMMER BANNED FOR FAILED DRUG TEST
LOS ANGELES: An Olympic medal winning swimmer linked to Russia’s state-run doping scandal has tested positive for the banned meldonium, the US Anti-Doping Agency announced Friday.
Nikita Lobintsev was already one of seven Russian swimmers banned from competing in the Rio Olympics by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) and USADA did not impose a new ban over the case. On Thursday, the University of South California said it had suspended Russians Lobintsev and Vladimir Morozov from competing with its team.
USA DA said the 27- year-old Lobintsev had been using meldonium for the past seven years. It was prescribed by Russia team doctors, who told him it would help strengthen his heart.
RUSSIAN CONTINGENT FOR RIO STANDS AT 266
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.
