Rio de Janeiro: Two Russian swimmers barred from the Olympics after an investigation found state-run doping have been given the all-clear to compete in Rio, world swimming federation Fina said on Thursday. Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev had been banned after being implicated in the Richard McLaren report on state-run doping in Russia. But they were named among 31 swimmers allowed to compete in Rio, Fina said.
The appeals of Yulia Efimova, a London bronze medallist, and Daria Ustinova were still pending, with Efimova’s case being heard on Thursday morning. With the Rio opening ceremony fast approaching on Friday, the International Olympic Committee was racing to confirm the final list of Russians allowed to compete in the Games. A three-man IOC commission will confirm the athletes put forward by the international sports federations.
The IOC gave the federations the job of determining which Russians should be eligible after opting against a blanket ban of the country. Turkey’s Ugur Erdener, president of the International Archery Federation and a doctor by profession, former fencer Claudia Bokel of Germany and Spain’s Juan-Antonio Samaranch Jr make up the commission. All 11 Russian judokas have been cleared — although none had been banned in the first place. Five Russian swimmers remained banned, but all of Russia’s water-polo players, synchronised swimmers and divers have been allowed into the Games.
