Hundreds of Russian athletes file cases against Paralympic suspension
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TORONTO, Canada (Kurdistan24) – At least 100 Russian athletes on Tuesday filed individual cases to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to be eligible for next month’s competition in Brazil.
Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) Vice President Pavel Rozhkov told the organization’s official website that efforts had been made by over 100 athletes to compete in the Rio Games.
“More than 100 Russian sportsmen out of 266 who were selected for the 15th Paralympic Summer Games in 2016 Rio de Janeiro,” the Vice President revealed.
“[These athletes] have filed individual cases with the IPC about being allowed to compete in the 2016 Paralympics,” Rozhkov continued.
Russia was notably suspended from this month’s Olympic Games in Rio for their state-sponsored sports doping program involving hundreds of athletes.
They initially had 387 athletes registered in their preliminary squad for the Rio Games, but only 271 were cleared to compete.
Moreover, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently rejected an appeal made by the RPC against the suspension.
Russia made one last attempt to challenge the CAS’ ruling by making an appeal to the Swiss Federal Court.
The result of this request is expected to be released by the end of this week.
Other athletes participating in the competition have backed the IPC’s decision to ban Russia from the Paralympic Games.
Britain’s Paralympic champion wheelchair racer David Weir agreed the ban was the correct verdict.
“It’s probably the right choice if they’ve got evidence that most of the athletes are on a doping program,” he told British media.
“It’s a bold step by the IPC and definitely the right one if they’ve got evidence,” Weir added.
The Paralympic event will take place from Sep. 7-18.
Editing by Ava Homa