Relief as dope-implicated Russians lose late Olympic bid

PYEONGCHANG: Dozens of Russians implicated in doping lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics yesterday, prompting relief among rivals but fury in Moscow.

Just hours before the opening ceremony, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the cases of 47 Russians who wanted to overturn a decision not to invite them to take part.

The court decision was quickly welcomed by the International Olympic Committee, which said it “brings clarity for all athletes”, and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

But a source close to the IOC told that the Russians have lodged a case with a Swiss civil court in Lausanne, where the IOC is headquartered, in a final bid to compete in South Korea.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is banned by the IOC, railed against the decision and said CAS had come under “pressure” from the Olympic Committee.

The Russians, including Korean-born star speed skater Victor An, had asked CAS to reverse an IOC decision not to invite them to compete as neutrals.

Russia’s team is banned after the emergence of systemic drug cheating. But the IOC allowed a large group of Russians deemed clean to take part as “Olympic Athletes from Russia.”

“The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed,” CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb told a packed news conference.

The team of Russian athletes remains at 168, the fourth biggest contingent of the Games. Russian competitors will march behind a neutral Olympic flag at the opening ceremony today.

The IOC hailed the decision and WADA president Craig Reedie called it “welcome news for WADA... for athletes and all others worldwide that care for clean sport.”

The Russian saga has proved highly contentious in the build-up to Pyeongchang. On Thursday, reports emerged of an altercation between a Canadian and a Russian at the athletes’ village.

Fifteen of the 47 who lost their bids on Friday were among a group of 28 who controversially had life bans from the Olympics overturned last week by CAS.

The other 32, including threetime Games gold medallist An, were also left off the list of Russians invited to Pyeongchang.

Russia’s Olympic suspension in December followed the uncovering of a widespread doping conspiracy culminating at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, where host nation Russia topped the medals table.

Russia has denied any government links to the conspiracy. But the IOC has banned the former sports minister Mutko for life.