© Denis Balibouse/Reuters
Two Russian rowers, Anastasia Karabelshikova and Ivan Podshivalov have won their appeal against an IOC ban from the Rio Olympics on the grounds that they had already served suspensions over past doping accusations. The case has been sent back to the International Rowing Federation (FISA) to render their decision "without delay."
"The IOC Decision deprives the Russian athletes of the presumption of innocence and rather establishes a presumption of guilt, but one that is rebuttable by the athletes on an individual basis," the court ruling said, referring to paragraph three of the IOC Executive Board decision of July 24, 2016.
The controversial paragraph said that the Russian Olympic Committee "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."
This wording, CAS ruled, "contains a simple, unqualified and absolute criterion" which is difficult to reconcile with the "stated aim to provide the athletes with an opportunity to rebut the presumption of guilt and to recognise the right to natural justice."
Therefore the rowers' appeal has been "partially" upheld on "limited"grounds, with the court urging FISA to "determine their eligibility or not, without delay", pursuant to the criteria listed in paragraph two of the IOC decision.
A similar ruling has been rendered in the case of Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, whose appeal has also been partially upheld.
Drug doping has been going in sport and major athletics for years. It has been well documented, medal winners have been, after the event. to be shown that they have taken drug enhancing drugs.
Can you imagine, if a slew Russian athletes, that are completely clean and have never taken any kind of drugs to enhance there performance were to win a significant amount of medals, and world the really appreciates there achievements think about it, it would really throw a curve ball into the narrative of demonizing Russia. It would show them in a positive light, something that the West does not want to happen.
With all the controversy surrounding the Russian athletes I support them in such controversial times and wish them success.