Rio 2016: Russian Paralympic Athletes Banned
After escaping the blanket ban incident, here comes a big problem in the Russian Paralympics team. A doping operation made by the Russian team polluted the sports because of prioritizing "medals over morals".
The International Paralympic Committee announced that Russia is banned from participating in the Paralympic Games which will run from September 7-18 in Rio. However, 278 Russians have been given clearance to compete at the Olympics after their eligibility in Rio de Janeiro was left to individual sports.
Richard McLaren authored a report last month for the World Anti-Doping Agency confirming that Russia facilitated a systematic and widespread doping scheme before and after the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. The Russian Ministry of Sport erased at least 312 positive doping test between the year 2011 and 2015.
The report of Richard McLaren exposed the darkest days in the history of all sport. IPC president Sir Philip Craven said that ""The actions were a body blow to clean, fair, honest sport. The Russia state-run program of cheating questioned the integrity and credibility of sport as we know it."
A total of 267 Russian paralympians will miss their chance to compete next month after the McLaren report found concrete evidence in the doping incident at the Sochi Paralympics. "It shows a blatant disregard for the health and wellbeing of athletes and, quite simply, has no place in Paralympic sport. Their thirst for glory at all costs has severely damaged the integrity and image of all sport, and has certainly resulted in a devastating outcome for the Russian Paralympic Committee and Para-athletes," IPC president Sir Philip Craven said.
Overall, 118 Russians were banned from the Olympics, while another 271 Russians are still competing.
