The Olympic flag flies with the Russian flag during the Opening Ceremony for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. The International Association of Athletics Federatioons upheld a ban Friday on Russia's track and field team, indicating the team is not eligible for the Summer Olympics. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
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VIENNA, June 17 (UPI) -- A ban on Russian track and field athletes was upheld Friday, indicating the team will not participate in the Summer Olympics after a doping scandal.
The International Association of Athletes Federations, the world's governing body for track and field, voted unanimously to continue Russia's ban on participation in international events. The unanimous vote came after a meeting of the IAAF council in Vienna, in which it was established Russia does not qualify for readmission to competition after it was banned in November. The ban came after a 325-page independent report, commissioned by the World Anti-Doping agency, revealed a broad pattern of state-sponsored doping of athletes.
All-Russian Athletics Federation Secretary General Mikhail Butov said Friday, "I can confirm that the suspension remains in force and will refrain from comment."
Butkov was in Vienna as a member of the IAAF council.
The upholding of the ban suggests Russian track and field team will not compete in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, beginning in August, but it comes with a loophole: Members of the International Olympic Committee, which is subordinate to the IAAF, will meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday with counterparts from other sports federations and anti-doping agencies to "consider whether and if individual athletes should be given individual justice."
Russian athletes not indicted for doping violations are expected to appeal to the independent and Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport to argue their innocence and objection to punishment for other's errors. It is possible some Russian athletes could compete in the Olympics, although not under the Russian flag.
"We will look at the next step for us," said CAS president John Coates. "The debate next Tuesday will be on the issue of individual justice and rights ... I would think there would be appeal opportunities, I would imagine, for someone who can establish their individual integrity."
Russian teams in sports other than track and field are still eligible for international competition, including at the Olympics.
