Japanese Olympic chiefs on Saturday backed a decision to ban Russian track and field athletes from this summer's Rio Games over doping claims, calling it a "strong warning" to drug cheats. World athletics ruling body the IAAF on Friday voted unanimously not to lift its suspension against the Russian federation, imposed last November following accusations of state-sponsored doping.
"While it is an extremely tough punishment, I feel it will serve as a warning to federations and national Olympic committees around the world," Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda told local media. Japanese athletics boss Hiroshi Yokogawa also backed the IAAF's tough stance, which triggered anger from Russia.
"On the Russian side there are still not enough anti-doping measures in place," said Yokogawa, president of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. "(The IAAF) had no choice but to report that the culture of doping in Russia was deep-rooted. "And it is a deep-rooted problem," he added. "At the council session the root of the issue was the argument that Russia had to show a strong determination to stamp out doping."
The IAAF has left the door open for Russian athletes to compete as neutrals if they prove they are clean. Pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva blasted Russia's Rio lockout as "a human rights violation" while Russian President Vladimir Putin described the ban as "unjust and unfair". But there was little sympathy in Japan for the fallout caused by Russia's doping scandal.
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