The Court of Arbitration For Sport (CAS) have rejected the Russia Olympic Committee and 68 Russian Track and Field Athletes’ appeal against their Rio Olympic ban. The International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) suspended Russia’s athletics federation after an evidence of widespread doping was detected form an independent report.
On the other hand, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering calls to ban all Russian competitors from the Olympic Games following a second report into state-sponsored doping. A spokesman said:
“The Cas panel confirmed that the ROC is not entitled to nominate Russian track and field athletes to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games considering that they are not eligible to participate under the IAAF competition rules.”
The sport governing body said they were pleased CAS was in support of their position saying that with the ban, a level playing ground have been created for athletes. IAAF president, Lord Coe, added:
“This is not a day for triumphant statements. I didn’t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing. “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.”
With the decision, it can be said that Russia’s participation at the Rio 2016 Olympics Track and Field event is uncertain.