Rio 2016: Russia team depleted by drugs ban gathers at airport

Image copyright Katja Kuznetsova

Image caption Russia had hoped to send 387 athletes – like these – but more than 100 are banned

The Russian Olympic team, hard-hit by a series of doping bans, has gathered at an airport in Moscow to fly to Brazil for the Rio Games.

They were greeted by members of the public at Sheremetyevo Airport.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) recommended Russia be banned from the games after releasing a damning report into state-sponsored doping.

But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) left it up to individual sports federations to decide.

• Russian Olympics team: Who will compete?

The IOC"s decision not to act on Wada"s recommendation was strongly criticised, with Wada chief Olivier Niggli saying the move would mean "lesser protection for clean athletes".

Journalist Katja Kuznetsova filmed some of the Russian team as they arrived at the airport.

Image copyright AP

Image caption On Wednesday Russian Olympians attended a religious service in Moscow

Russia had hoped to send 387 competitors to Rio and more than 100 have so far been banned from going.

Among those excluded are 67 out of 68 from the athletics team.

Some international federations have banned Russians from competing altogether, some have issued a partial ban, while others have cleared all Russians to take part. Others still are yet to decide.

Russia"s President, Vladimir Putin, said there was a "deliberate campaign targeting" Russian athletes.

He said medals won in Rio would be devalued by the absence of Russian competitors, telling the Russian team "the other sportsmen understand that the quality of their medals will be different".

Original Article

Rio 2016: Russia team depleted by drugs ban gathers at airport
https://latiendadejm.com/blog/rio-2016-russia-team-depleted-by-drugs-ban-gathers-at-airport/

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