Russian Doping Revelations Jeopardize Rio Olympic Participation

(ATR) Pressure is mounting on the IAAF and IOC to ban Russia after reports of 14 positives from retests of Beijing 2008 doping samples.

Compartir
Compartir articulo
BEIJING - AUGUST 01:  Competitors practice for the fencing under the watchful eye of doping control ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 1, 2008 in Beijing, China.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
BEIJING - AUGUST 01: Competitors practice for the fencing under the watchful eye of doping control ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 1, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

(ATR) Pressure is mounting on the IAAF and IOC to ban Russia from the Rio Olympics after reports that 14 of its athletes are among 31 positives from retests of Beijing 2008 doping samples.

Most of the Russians suspected of doping are track and field athletes, including London 2012 high jump champion Anna Chicherova, according to state-run news agency TASS. She is one of the first athletes to be named. Another isBeijing 2008 javelin silver medalist Mariya Abakumova.

TASS said the IOC had informed the Russian Olympic Committee about the 14 athletes.

The IOC declined to confirm the news. "We clearly would not comment on such unsubstantiated reports at this stage in the process," said an IOC spokesman.

Chicherova’s coach Yevgeny Zagorulko told TASS that the Beijing 2008 bronze medalist "received a notice that her doping sample from the Beijing Olympic tested positive after a re-check and she called me. So far, this is at the development stage and this has not yet been finally confirmed. But all are aware of this and are dealing with the issue".

Reports of more Russian athletes failing doping tests comes a day before IAAF inspectors head to Moscow to evaluate the country’s progress in revamping its tarnished anti-doping system.

Allegations of a state-supported cover-up of doping samples at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, now the subject of a WADA probe, are also jeopardizing Russia’s participation at Rio 2016.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko told Sputnik news on Tuesday that he saw no grounds for banning Russia from Rio 2016 as the government was taking steps to reform its anti-doping system.

Mutko was due to meet a group of international media later in the day.

The IOC announced last week that 31 athletes from 12 countries and six sports could be banned from the Rio Olympics after they tested positive in retesting of 454 selected samples from the Beijing Games.

Results of retesting 250 doping samples from the London Olympics were due early this week. The retesting program focused on athletes who could potentially start at the Rio Olympics and used the latest scientific analysis methods.

The IOC told Around the Ringson Tuesday "We expect them shortly."

The All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF), in a statement reported by Reuters, said on Tuesday that athletes who had been previously caught doping would not be allowed to represent Russia at the Rio Olympics.

Reported by Mark Bisson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.

Recent Articles

The Friendship Games organized against Russia against the IOC will have the participation of 70 countries

The World Friendship Games (WFG) will feature competitions in 36 sports and will award 283 medals to the winners. The Russian Government announced that a press conference will soon be held to present them with more details and clarified that the invitations to participate are addressed to athletes and not to countries.
The Friendship Games organized against Russia against the IOC will have the participation of 70 countries

Clues about the pebetero: it will not be in the stadium but in the middle of Paris and in public view

From France, information indicates that the site chosen for the Olympic fire to be lit since July 26 would be the emblematic Tuileries Garden. Official sources did not confirm the fact, but they recognize the idea that it is located in the heart of Paris and in full view of fans.
Clues about the pebetero: it will not be in the stadium but in the middle of Paris and in public view

Nearly a thousand boats will welcome the torch in France

The parade in the Mediterranean will be minutes before disembarkation at the Old Port of Marseille; they must meet certain requirements and apply to participate.
Nearly a thousand boats will welcome the torch in France

France says it will “be ready” to ensure safety at the Olympic Games while raising the alert level

The attack in Moscow threatened the whole of Europe and security in Paris is once again in the spotlight, just four months after the parade of delegations on the Seine River.
France says it will “be ready” to ensure safety at the Olympic Games while raising the alert level

Will Paris 2024 have its red carpet?

Although all the expectations for July 26 are set on an opening ceremony that promises to be extraordinary, it is likely that, in the hour before the party, the world will attend a parade of luminaries from sports, arts and entertainment.
Will Paris 2024 have its red carpet?