Calls for Rio Games ban on Russia grow louder

Moscow: Russia rejected on Tuesday explosive accusations of doping and corruption and promised a rapid response to avoid suspension from the 2016 Olympics due to the scandal that threatens to spread far beyond the borders of Russia and athletics.

 

“Until any proof has been put forward it is hard to accept any accusations as they seem rather groundless,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated. 

As pressure mounted on Russia for answers, the World Anti-Doping Agency took the first concrete measure since Monday’s damning report from its independent commission by suspending Moscow’s heavily-criticised anti-doping laboratory.

 

Athletics was rocked by an avalanche of allegations including accusations of Russian “state-sponsored” doping contained in the findings. 

IAAF chief Sebastian Coe has given the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) “until the end of the week” to respond or risk possible suspension.

 

Calls for Russia, fourth in the 2012 London Olympics medal table, to be banned from next year’s Olympic Games are growing. UK Athletics chief Ed Warner told BBC Radio 4: “Lord Coe says that his council is meeting to consider sanctioning Russia and possibly to suspend them. My advice would be to do that.” That view was echoed by Australia’s national Olympic Committee.

 

“If Russia is not in Rio, I think the reputation of athletics will be enhanced because the public will know every athlete competing is clean,” the Australian Olympic team’s chef de mission Kitty Chiller said in Sydney.