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These Russian Athletes Are Going to Rio Olympics Amid Doping Scandal

© AP Photo / David J. Phillip, fileIn this Feb. 18, 2014 file photo, a Russian skating fan holds the country's national flag over the Olympic rings before the start of the men's 10,000-meter speedskating race at Adler Arena Skating Center during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia
In this Feb. 18, 2014 file photo, a Russian skating fan holds the country's national flag over the Olympic rings before the start of the men's 10,000-meter speedskating race at Adler Arena Skating Center during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia - Sputnik International
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has transferred rights to sports federations to decide on the admission of Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Thus, the big question remains which Russian athletes will compete in Rio?

A woman walks past Olympic rings placed at the entrance of a office building ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 19, 2016. - Sputnik International
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According to the statement made by the IOC, the main focus of the committee is the absolute “cleanliness” of athletes as the main criterion for their involvement in competitions.

At the same time, the IOC decided not to grant accreditation to representatives of the Ministry of Sports of Russia.

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), for its part, has committed to a full and comprehensive restructuring of the country's anti-doping system, said chairman of ROC, Alexander Zhukov, during a speech at the IOC Executive Board.

Demands Toward Russians

Athletes who have already been disqualified for doping earlier will not receive accreditation for the Games, even if sanctions against them have expired.

The IOC did not allow runner Yulia Stepanova to take part as previously she had been disqualified for doping.

It was the statement made by Stepanova and her husband in the film for the German TV channel ARD on doping in Russian sports that served as the catalyst for the IAAF and WADA to investigate the Russian runners.

The Russian athletes, who will be allowed to compete in Rio, should be ready for additional checking. If the athlete in question will not be available for such a test, the IOC will immediately deprive its accreditation.

Reaction in Russia

Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko said the decision of the IOC was balanced and objective, adopted in the interests of the world of sport and “the unity of the Olympic family.”

An employee working in the laboratory of the anti-doping center accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in Moscow - Sputnik International
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Mutko also expressed confidence in the fact that the majority of the international federations have no complaints against the Russian athletes and voiced hope that the team will perform adequately in Rio.

Athletics (track and field)

Only one track and field athlete, long jumper Darya Klishina, has been cleared to compete as a “neutral” in Rio Olympics and that was because she was training in the United States.

The IAAF previously upheld the disqualification of the All-Russian Athletics Federation, but on the recommendation of the IOC agreed to consider the admission of athletes to compete on an individual basis.

© Sputnik / Anton Denisov / Go to the mediabankAthletes at the start of the women's 100m semifinal race at the Russian Track and Field Cup at the Meteor stadium in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region
Athletes at the start of the women's 100m semifinal race at the Russian Track and Field Cup at the Meteor stadium in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region - Sputnik International
Athletes at the start of the women's 100m semifinal race at the Russian Track and Field Cup at the Meteor stadium in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region

The Russian Olympic Committee and 68 athletes contested this decision of the IAAF in court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the appeal was rejected on Thursday.

Weightlifting

Russian weightlifter Alexei Lovcheva will definitely not be taking part in Rio Olympics. On July 15, CAS rejected his appeal against the decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for a four-year suspension.

The IWF governing body said it is “awaiting evidence to be provided by Russian athletes.”

It says it has contacted the IOC and WADA for further clarification and its executive board will issue the final decision once the evidence has been evaluated.

The federation is unlikely to remove other Russian weightlifters, member of the IWF Committee and former head coach of the Russian national team in weightlifting David Riegert said.

Aquatics (swimming, diving, water polo)

Participation in the Olympic Games of swimmer Yulia Efimova remains under question.

Alexander Dyachenko - Sputnik International
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The decision as to whether the new criteria of the IOC will show Efimova as completely “clean” will be taken up by the International Swimming Federation, Vitaly Mutko has said.

Anastasia Krapivina, who was slated to compete in the 10k open water race in Rio tested positive for a banned substance in 2013, thus disallowing the ROC to enter her for the games.

© RIA Novosti . Anton Denisov / Go to the mediabankRussian swimmers
Russian swimmers - Sputnik International
Russian swimmers

Swimmers Natalia Lovtsov and Mikhail Dovgaluk may also be facing disqualification from the games.

Rowing

President of the Russian Federation of Rowing (FGSR) Benjamin Booth expressed hope that there won’t be any problems for Russian rowers with the International Rowing Federation.

He noted that, apart from the case with Sergei Fedorovtsev, since 2013 FGSR has had no cases of doping.

In June it became known that the Russian men's doubles, which included Fedorovtsev, was suspended from participating in the Games in Rio because of positive doping test results.

Cycling

Previous problems with doping were faced by cyclists Ilnur Zakarin and Olga Zabelinskaya, the Russian team leaders.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) said they would make a decision on each individual athlete.

Tennis

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) in a statement expressed confidence on the decision of the IOC saying that seven Russian tennis players have satisfactorily met the criteria of the International Olympic Committee for the Games in Rio.

Triathlon

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) confirmed that Russian athletes will be admitted to the Olympic Games.

This year the maximum possible numbers of triathletes, six, have been selected to take part in the games. This is the best result for the Russian team in its entire 16-year history of presence in the triathlon at the Olympic Games.

Handball

The Russian Handball Federation said that national team players have a “clean” history of doping, so there should be no problems with taking part in the Olympic Games.

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