The Int'l Paralympic Committee "banned the entire Russia Paralympic team from next month’s Rio Games" after the revelation that some of its athletes were implicated in a state-sponsored doping program, according to Ungoed-Thomas & Fearon of the LONDON TIMES.
Reports on Saturday revealed that the IPC "had made a provisional decision" to which Russian Paralympic Committee President Vladimir Lukin proclaimed "complete surprise." A decision "was made to ban them outright." IPC President Philip Craven said, "The Russian Paralympic Committee will not be able to enter athletes into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. It is our responsibility to ensure fair competition. That is vital to the integrity and credibility of Paralympic sport. I believe the Russian government has catastrophically failed its athletes. The medals over morals attitude disgusts me" (LONDON TIMES, 8/7). The BBC reported the Russian Paralympic Committee "will reportedly appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport." Craven said, "The Russian Paralympic Committee are unable to ensure compliance with and enforcement of the IPC anti-doping code and the world anti-doping code within their own national jurisdiction and they can not fulfill its fundamental obligation as an IPC member." US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said the IPC's decision was "inspiring." He said, "The IPC showed strong leadership today in holding Russia's state-organised doping accountable." The British Paralympic Association said the IPC had taken a bold decision and congratulated it for taking a "clear stand" (BBC, 8/7). The IPC said in a statement, "The effect of the suspension is that the Russian Paralympic Committee loses all rights and privileges of IPC membership. In particular, a member is not entitled to be heard, except with respect to their suspension, or to vote at meetings of members, and/or to enter athletes in competitions sanctioned by the IPC, and/or to participate in IPC activities. Consequently, the Russian Paralympic Committee will not be able to enter its athletes in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games" (IPC).
