US-based long-jumper Darya Klishina can compete at the Rio Olympics under the Russian flag despite the athletics world body saying she should take part as a neutral, IOC president Thomas Bach said Wednesday. Bach said Klishina's case could not be "put in the same basket" as whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova who must wait to see if an Olympic ethics board accepts the 800m runner's request to take part as a neutral.
Russian sport is caught at the centre of a doping maelstrom amid accusations of state-sponsored use of banned substances. The International Association of Athletics Federations said on Sunday that Klishina was clear to compete in Rio as a neutral athlete. The IAAF has suspended the Russian federation and cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport will decide how many Russian track and field stars make it to Rio.
Bach said, however, that Klishina should be allowed to run for Russia. "She has been declared eligible by her international federation. It is now, according to the Olympic Charter, up to her national Olympic Committee to decide about her entry to the Olympic Games.
"If this happens, she then would be a full member of the team of the Russian Olympic Committee." Bach said the case of Stepanova, who first made allegations of doping in Russian athletics, would need special permission under the Olympic Charter. "We have the request from her, she does not want to compete in the team of the Russian Olympic Committee," Bach told a small group of reporters. "The IOC has to study an exception from the Olympic Charter. Since this implies many ethical questions, the executive board has asked the IOC ethics commission for their advice. "Then we will have to look at all the circumstances on this case and make a decision based on this advice." The Court of Arbitration has said it will rule by July 21 on whether to overturn the IAAF ban on the Russian athletics federation. The cases of 68 Russian athletes are being considered by the Lausanne-based tribunal.
Comments
Comments are closed.