MOSCOW: The International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) actions suggest the organisation had got orders from “somebody” not to allow any Russians at any cost at the Rio Olympics, two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbaeva said on Sunday.
The IAAF earlier rejected applications from all Russian athletes for participation in international competitions, including the Rio Olympic Games starting on August 5, except for long jump athlete Darya Klishina, who is trained outside Russia, reports Tass.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, had received a filed lawsuit from the Russian Olympic Committee against IAAF in defence of 68 national track and field athletes wishing to participate in the 2016 Summer Games. The hearings are due July 19, and the verdict will be announced no later than July 21.
“Athletes from other countries count days to opening of the Olympic Games, while we — to decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Where the global athletics is going to, and when will this all be over. Nobody replies,” Isinbaeva wrote on Instagram.
“For the first time, over the 20-years’ career in sports, I have to confirm in the court the right to participate in the Games,” the 34-year-old added.
The three-time world champion continued: “I feel sorry for our young and promising athletes, who already have been deprived of the right to participate in the global competition this year.”
“I have a feeling, IAAF got an order — not to allow at any cost. Alas.”
TASS learned on Saturday that USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) head Travis Tygart is set to demand from International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach that the Russian Olympic and Paralympic teams be suspended from taking part in the Games.
The decision should be taken not later than July 26, Tygart says in his draft letter, obtained by TASS.
On Monday, the WADA Independent Commission led by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren is expected to release a report on doping manipulations at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
In the meantime, Tygart says in his draft letter that McLaren’s probe has confirmed the state has been patronizing the system of doping in Russia.
Meanwhile, the Olympic movement faces division in a critical week ahead of the Rio Games with a report on Monday to set out whether Russia manipulated doping samples, followed quickly by a sports tribunal verdict on 68 Russian athletes demanding to compete in Rio.
A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decision on whether to let the Rio doping laboratory reopen could also hamper International Olympic Committee preparations. (Agencies)
