Three anti-doping advisers to the Int'l Swimming Federation (FINA) resigned, saying swimming's world governing body "ignored a call to ban some Russian athletes from Rio 2016," according to the BBC. Professor Andrew Pipe "left his role as chairman of the body's doping control review board, as have two other members of the eight-strong panel." Seven swimmers "competed despite bans from the board for doping violations." FINA said that it gave the advice to the IOC "and the Court of Arbitration for Sport" (BBC, 9/4). The AP reported FINA "expressed surprise at their walkout." FINA responded in a statement on Sunday that it "obviously regrets" the resignations by Pipe and two others from the eight-member panel. FINA said, "Concerning the claims expressed in their resignation letter, FINA would like to clarify that the Olympic Games are an IOC event." FINA "insisted on its integrity" in a letter of response by President Julio Maglione to the former officials. Maglione said, "FINA always coordinates with all stakeholders in the sport movement to assure that transparency and zero tolerance in the fight against doping is in place, thus protecting the clean athletes" (AP, 9/5).
