IOC forced to lift ban on ex-dopers

RIO DE JANEIRO— The IOC approved the entry of 271 Russian athletes for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Thursday, meaning 70 per cent of the country’s original team will compete after a doping scandal that has dominated the buildup to the games.

Also Thursday, the IOC rule barring Russian athletes with prior doping sanctions from competing in the games was rejected as “unenforceable” by a sports arbitration panel, a decision which could open the door to further appeals and more Russians being entered.

The International Olympic Committee announced the go-ahead for 271 Russian athletes about 24 hours before the opening ceremony of the games. Overall, more than 100 Russians have been excluded, including 67 in track and field.

The IOC recently rejected calls from anti-doping organizations to ban Russia’s entire team following a report by a World Anti-Doping Agency investigator that detailed evidence of state-directed doping and coverups.

Instead, the IOC asked international federations to examine individual Russian athletes to determine if they should be eligible for the games. The IOC set up a panel of three executive board members to review the entries and make the final call, taking into account the advice of an independent sports arbitrator.

Russia’s track and field team remains barred following an earlier decision by the IAAF. Only one athlete, U.S.-based long jumper Darya Klishina, was cleared by the IAAF because she had been regularly tested outside Russia.

Meanwhile, the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the IOC rule that bars from the games any Russian athletes with prior doping sanctions, saying it amounts to sanctioning someone twice for one offence. CAS said the rule “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice.”

Canada’s Smith named to IOC

Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith has expanded her global reach.

Smith was one eight people named to the International Olympic Committee during its congress here Wednesday.

A four-time Olympian and a rowing silver medallist in 1984, Smith became COC president earlier this year.

The Vancouver-based lawyer becomes the third Canadian to serve on the IOC, joining six-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser and longtime member Dick Pound.

Boos for Brazil in soccer

Brazil started its quest for an Olympic gold medal in men’s soccer with a disappointing 0-0 draw against 10-man South Africa, a result that prompted loud jeers by some of the home fans.

Despite an attack led by Barcelona striker Neymar and talented youngsters Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol, Brazil was not able to find the net.

Gabriel Jesus, newly signed by Manchester City, had the game’s best chance in the 69th minute but missed an open net with a closerange shot that struck the post.

A new game for Games

Pokemon Go has arrived in Rio. Available this week in Brazil for the first time, not coincidentally on the eve of the Rio Olympics, the game involves players using their smartphones to track down the virtual creatures.

It was a cause of some lament among Olympians who arrived in Rio to find that Pokemon Go wasn’t there to greet them. U.S. diver and 2012 silver medalist Abby Johnston tweeted that “the worst thing about the Olympic village” was how she couldn’t find a way to play the game there.

Japanese gymnast Kohei Uchimura told media he racked up a $5,000 phone bill trying to play the game leading up to the Games.

Royal cover-up

Andy Murray is quite adept at wielding a tennis racket. Holding a giant flag? He needs some work in that area. Murray joked Thursday about having had a tad bit of trouble during a photo op for the British team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, posing with the flag while standing next to a member of the royal family.

“I ended up putting the flag in front of Princess Anne’s face, and I didn’t know what to do, to be honest,” Murray said. “The flag’s huge. So as soon as I took the flag, I was covering someone’s face.”

Asked what the princess told him, Murray replied: “I think she said: ‘Just make sure you don’t poke my eye out,’ or something along those lines.”