Russian weightlifting team will not be allowed to participate in Olympics
The Russian weightlifting team was barred from participation in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced on their website on Friday, 29 July.
The Executive Committee has carefully reviewed the decision regarding the participation of Russian weightlifters in the Rio Olympic Games, says the statement. In particular, it reviewed a report by an independent expert, Richard McLaren, who, at the request of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had investigated the manipulation of doping tests of Russian athletes during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has named eight weightlifters to participate in the Games. Two of them - Tatiana Kashirina and Anastasia Romanova - had previously been involved in anti-doping violations, states the IWF document. Four other athletes are also listed in the report of the World Anti-Doping Agency Commission under the guidance of Richard McLaren.
"The Russians have repeatedly and seriously harmed the reputation of weightlifting. Therefore, to maintain the integrity of the sport, an appropriate sanction was applied," the IWF explains in its decision.