Russian whistleblower won't appeal ban

7:59 am on 6 August 2016

Rio 2016 Olympics - The Russian whistleblower, Yulia Stepanova, won't appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over her ban on competing as an independent athlete at the Rio Olympics.

Doping in sport. (file photo)

Photo: 123RF

The runner helped expose state-backed doping in Russian sport and has fled the country, now living at a secret location in the United States.

She was ruled out of the Rio Games when the International Olympic Committee decided to ban any Russian who had served a doping ban.

However, CAS outlawed that decision yesterday, potentially reopening a way in for her.

Stepanova had hoped to compete as an independent athlete under he IOC flag.

But in a statement, she and her husband Vitaly, a former Russian anti-doping official, said they believed the IOC had discretion to invite anyone it chose to the Games.

"We are disappointed that the IOC turned a blind eye to the risks Yuliya had to take, and the damage to her athletic career, to expose the systematic cheating in Russia and live up to the ideals expressed in the World Anti-Doping Code," they said.

"For her to be called 'not ethical enough for the Games' in the media release of the IOC on July 24 is a tremendous blow.

"We believe that in exercising this discretion to deny Yuliya a place in the competition, it sends a message that the World Anti-Doping Code and the values of Olympism are merely words on a page,

"As a result, we will not file an appeal to CAS."

- Reuters

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