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August 5, 2016

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Banned Russian swimmers cleared

Source: Agencies | August 5, 2016, Friday | Print Edition

TWO Russian swimmers barred from the Olympics after an investigation found state-run doping have been given the all-clear to compete in Rio de Janeiro, world swimming federation FINA said yesterday.

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 medalist, and Daria Ustinova were still pending, with Efimova’s case being heard yesterday.

With the Rio opening ceremony fast approaching today, 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.

Russia’s entire track and field team has been banned from Rio following reports of state-backed systematic doping.

Five Russian swimmers remained banned, but all of its water polo players, synchronized swimmers and divers have been allowed into the games.

The International Boxing Association recommended that all 11 Russian boxers, nine men and two women, should also be allowed to compete.

“AIBA has carried out an individual analysis of the anti-doping record of each of the 11 Russian boxers qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games...” AIBA said in a statement.

“That process is now complete and confirmation has been received from the IOC Review Panel that the following 11 Russian boxers are eligible to compete at Rio 2016.”

The International Judo Federation has cleared all 11 Russian judo athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics.

The federation said yesterday that four women and seven men were tested “many times” before the Olympics and are clean.

The world volleyball governing body has cleared Russia’s teams for volleyball and beach volleyball. The International Federation of Volleyball said yesterday the 30 Russian players had formally received the green light from the IOC as expected. The men’s volleyball team is the defending Olympic champion.

Meanwhile, tennis top seed Novak Djokovic faces a hazardous first round at the games after yesterday’s draw pitted him against Argentine powerhouse Juan Martin del Potro, the man who denied him a medal four years ago in London.

The 29-year-old Serb, beaten by Del Potro in the bronze-medal match at the 2012 Games, is bidding to become only the third man to win all four grand slam singles titles, the Davis Cup and Olympic gold, after Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal.

Second seed Andy Murray, the defending champion who will carry Britain’s flag at the opening ceremony today, takes on Djokovic’s Serbian teammate Viktor Troicki in round one while defending women’s champion Serena Williams opens her campaign against Australian Daria Gavrilova.

Williams is going for a fifth Olympic gold medal, as is her sister Venus who plays Kirsten Flipkens in the first round.

Several top names, including 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer and Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic, are missing from the men’s draw. The 2008 Olympic champion Rafael Nadal of Spain is in Rio despite not playing since pulling out of the French Open with a wrist injury. Third seed Nadal, a potential semifinal opponent for Djokovic, faces Argentine Federico Delbonis in round one.

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