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Domenica, 14 Agosto 2016 14:31

Russia's sole athletics competitor suspended from Olympics

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There’s been another twist in the Russian doping saga, with long jumper Darya Klishina barred from competing at the Olympics.

She was Russia’s only track and field competitor allowed to go to Rio after satisfying the governing body.

But the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) now says it’s received new information and has stripped her of special eligibility status.

“I think we already forgot about athletics in Rio. You have to understand that the athletics programme is over for Russia completely,” reacted Artem Smilkov, a Russian journalist.

Vladimir, another Russian journalist, added: “She is clean, why she can’t take part I don’t understand.”

Klishina echoes that, describing the ban as politically motivated. She is appealing at sport’s highest tribunal.

The exemption to a blanket ban on Russian competitors over allegations of state-sponsored doping had been given to the long jumper after she proved she was not involved in the system and had been subject to drug tests outside the country.

A source close to the proceedings, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Klishina had been suspended as new evidence had emerged in relation to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report, the McLaren report.

Russia’s track and field athletes had been banned from the Olympics due to the doping scandal. Klishina’s was one of 136 appeals to the IAAF, but the only one given the green light to compete in Rio. (Euronews)

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