A final decision on whether Russia can compete at the 2018 Winter Paralympics will be taken in January after the IPC upheld the ban on Tuesday, according to the BBC. Russia was banned from all Paralympic competition by the IPC in Aug. '16 after "revelations of systematic doping." The IPC governing board said that there were "still five key measures to be met before Russia's reinstatement," which are:
- The approval of the Russian Paralympic Committee's constitution by the IPC membership department.
- Completion of all budget-related aspects of the reinstatement criteria.
- The provision and confirmation of "certain additional information by the RPC regarding personnel and governance (reinstatement criteria 10 and 14.2)," as specified by the taskforce.
- The full reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency by WADA.
- The provision of an official response "specifically and adequately addressing the findings" made by Professor Richard McLaren (BBC, 12/20).
TASS reported Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said on Wednesday that he was "disappointed" with the IPC's decision. He said, "The RPC implemented all of the previously stipulated (reinstatement) criteria. I see as groundless the IPC argument that the membership reinstatement depends on the work of the (Russian) Investigative Committee and the acknowledgment of the McLaren report's findings." Kolobkov added that the IOC decisions earlier in the day were "also positive since the organization left in force its decision regarding the participation of Russian Paralympians in the qualifying tournaments under a neutral flag ahead of the 2018 Winter Games" (TASS, 12/20).
UPSIDE DOWN: The AP's Graham Dunbar reported the word "Russia" will appear on the Olympic uniforms worn by the athletes granted an exemption from the country's doping ban at the PyeongChang Games. The IOC on Wednesday published guidelines for restrictions around the use of "OAR" on approved uniforms. "Russia" cannot be "more prominent" than the words "Olympic Athlete from." The logo proposed by the IOC "features the complete phrase around a circle, with Russia upside down" (AP, 12/20).
