JapanTimes: In an unprecedented move, Russia’s track and field athletes have been banned from competing for their country at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because the country has failed to do enough to clean up a deep-rooted doping system that tainted athletes who may be clean.
The landmark decision Friday left a narrow possibility for some Russian athletes to compete individually if they had been living outside Russia and had undergone testing in a recognized foreign anti-doping system.
“But don’t run away with the idea that it’s a large number,” IAAF president Sebastian Coe said after announcing the ruling loaded with geopolitical ramifications.
The IAAF upheld its ban on Russia’s track and field federation, saying the country had made some progress in cleaning up since the suspension was imposed in November but failed to meet the requirements for reinstatement and would be barred from sending its athletes to the Rio Games that begin in 50 days. MORE
Filthy fucking Russians… we should have destroyed them during or after WW2.
That will probably turn out to be a blessing for the Russian athletes. No chance of being bitten by zika mosquitoes, plus I understand the economy there has tanked, so they’ll probably be charging tourists 10x what anything is worth.
Solution: send male athletes as female and take gold in every sport!