Russia welcomes IOC decision on participation of athletes in Rio Olympics

Russian Sports Ministry on Sunday welcomed the decision made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Russian athletes' participation in the upcoming Rio Olympic Games.

The details of the decision are as follows.

1. The IOC will not accept any entry of any Russian athlete in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 unless such athlete can meet the conditions set out below.

2. Entry will be accepted by the IOC only if an athlete is able to provide evidence to the full satisfaction of his or her International Federation (IF) in relation to the following criteria:

• The IFs, when establishing their pool of eligible Russian athletes, to apply the World Anti-Doping Code and other principles agreed by the Olympic Summit (21 June 2016).

• The absence of a positive national anti-doping test cannot be considered sufficient by the IFs.

• The IFs should carry out an individual analysis of each athlete' s anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of the athlete's sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field.

• The IFs to examine the information contained in the IP Report, and for such purpose seek from WADA the names of athletes and National Federations (NFs) implicated. Nobody implicated, be it an athlete, an official, or an NF, may be accepted for entry or accreditation for the Olympic Games.

• The IFs will also have to apply their respective rules in relation to the sanctioning of entire NFs.

3. The ROC is not allowed to enter any athlete for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 who has ever been sanctioned for doping, even if he or she has served the sanction.

4. The IOC will accept an entry by the ROC only if the athlete's IF is satisfied that the evidence provided meets conditions 2 and 3 above and if it is upheld by an expert from the CAS list of arbitrators appointed by an ICAS Member, independent from any sports organization involved in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

5. The entry of any Russian athlete ultimately accepted by the IOC will be subject to a rigorous additional out-of-competition testing program in coordination with the relevant IF and WADA. Any non-availability for this program will lead to the immediate withdrawal of the accreditation by the IOC.

Also:The IOC will not enter ("whistle-blower" Yuliya) Stepanova as a competitor in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko

"The decision made by the IOC was balanced; based on the report of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) independent commission, it is objective and benefiting global sport and unity of the Olympic family. We are grateful to the IOC for such a decision," said Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko.

A report issued Monday by an independent WADA commission accused Russia of running a "state-dictated failsafe system" of drug cheating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major events, and recommended IOC to suspend the whole Russian team from the 2016 Olympics.

The IOC earlier in the day decided not to impose a blanket ban on Russia from the Rio Olympics and let each summer sports International Federation (IF) determine an athlete's eligibility.

According to Mutko, the Russian athletes of the national team would apply to IFs with renegotiations to be carried out quickly.

"I am sure that most of the international federations have no issues with Russian athletes," R-Sport, a sports division of RIA Novosti news agency, quoted Mutko as saying.

The minister also voiced readiness of Russia to reshape the entire anti-doping system, as Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed to set up a "really independent and public" anti-doping commission.

The ROC has already approved a 387-member team for Rio, while Russian authorities said the country continues to prepare for the Rio 2016 and would protect the legitimate interests of Russian athletes.

(APD)