.jpg)
LONDON (SW): The International Olympic Committee has decided against a blanket ban on Russian athletes from competing in the sporting world’s largest stage next month in Rio de Janeiro.
Less than two weeks before the start of the Rio Games, the International Olympic Committee ruled against barring Russia from the Summer Olympics but did approve measures that could reduce the number of Russian athletes participating.
Members of the executive board met on a conference call Sunday and granted authority to the 28 individual federations that govern each sport to rule on which Russian athletes should be permitted to compete in their respective disciplines.
According to the Washington Times, it could curtail Russia’s participation in the Rio Olympics, it means the exact number of Russian athletes and medal hopefuls representing the nation could remain in flux until days before the opening ceremony, which is scheduled for Aug. 5.
“This is not about expectations. This is about doing justice to our clean athletes all over the world,” IOC President Thomas Bach said on a conference call Sunday afternoon.
With Olympic competition scheduled to start in 12 days, the international federations are left with a very short window in which they must review the IOC’s stated criteria and determine which Russian athletes should be allowed to compete. “This is a very ambitious timeline,” Bach said, “but we had no choice.”
While officials with the Russian sports ministry have acknowledged a “culture of doping,” they have denied any form of government involvement. Russia President Vladimir Putin has been vocal about what he sees as an unfair process with political undertones, saying last week that the “Olympic movement, which is a tremendous force for uniting humanity, once again could find itself on the brink of division.”
ENDS
