The International Olympics Committee, IOC, has opposed the quest to admit the 15 banned Russian athletes into the Olympic Winter Games set to be held at PyeongChang in South Korea, 2018.
Russian athletes who comprise of 11 practising and two retired individuals were cleared after the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) investigated their cases and rendered them eligible for the upcoming Olympic games.
In its argument, the athletics body IOC argues that the athletes who were being investigated had not been fully cleared and declared fit for competition. One of its perception is that the contents of the decision had not been made public and clarification given on why the athletes were cleared.
A Statement from the IOC reads in part:
“While the Invitation Review Panel noted the CAS’s decision of 1 February 2018, it also noted that the full reasoning for these decisions had not been made public. The Panel highlighted that its role, according to the IOC Executive Board decision of 5 December 2017, was not to establish ADRVs, but to confirm that athletes can be considered clean for a potential OAR invitation to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018."
READ MORE
Venezuela accuses US of 'aggression' as explosions rock Caracas
Nairobi records nearly 9,500 child GBV cases in 2025
From money laundering to drugs, arms and human trafficking: How Kenya has become a crime hub
Presidential Escort Unit officer under arrest for murder in Angata Barrikoi
"Therefore, the Panel unanimously recommended that the IOC not extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 to the 15 individuals requested by the suspended ROC.”
Further in its rebuttal to the idea of including the 15 athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee, IOC adds that an establishment by its panel puts the athletes on the spot for engaging in doping.
“Following the detailed analysis conducted by the Panel, its members observed that there were additional elements and/or evidence, which could not be considered by the IOC Oswald Commission because it was not available to it, that raised suspicion about the integrity of these athletes.”
After the Geneva meeting the CAS cleared the athletes on grounds that the evidence submitted against them were insufficient. It however upheld bans for 11 other athletes.
Russia had lauded the move terming it as ‘justice served’ to the nation and to the athletics fraternity in the country.
While commenting on the issue, Russian Olympic Assembly chief Alexander Zhrkov praised CAS decision.
“From the very start, we’ve insisted that our athletes are not involved in any doping frauds, and now we are happy that the court has restored their name and all rewards were returned to them,” Said Zhurkov.
