Tag: russia ban

Olympic ban opens chasm between Russia’s athletes and leaders

by Thibault Marchandet and Marina Lapenkova Agence France Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter Games over state-orchestrated doping has created an unprecedented split between the country’s athletes and politicians. On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would not boycott next year’s Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, nor would it prevent athletes from taking part. It was a decision welcomed by IOC chief Thomas […]

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S. Korea voices regret over Russia Winter Olympics ban

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea on Thursday voiced regret over the decision to ban Russia from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, saying the participation of the country’s athletes was crucial to the success of the event. The South Korean sports ministry urged Russian athletes to compete as neutrals following the International Olympic Committee’s unprecedented ban, saying in a statement it had “worked hard over the past seven years to make meticulous preparations” for a […]

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Olympics: Russia anger after Rio ban appeal rejected

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) – by Agnès Pedrero in Lausanne and Ben Simon in Geneva The international sports tribunal on Thursday rejected an appeal by Russian athletes against a Rio Olympics ban amid mounting pressure for action over state-run doping in Russia. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling on track and field is seen as a key indicator as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) debates whether to order a blanket ban on Russia from the Rio […]

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