Winter Olympics | 60 Russian athletes appeal to CAS for ban reduction

Winter Olympics | 60 Russian athletes appeal to CAS for ban reduction

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A total of 60 athletes have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a day before the opening ceremony, in a last-ditch effort to make it to the Olympics. Earlier CAS had lifted the ban on 28 Russian stars, paving a way for them to make it to the Games that will be held in Pyeongchang.

After the CAS handed 28 stranded Russian athletes a chance of making it back to the world stage, the applications from others started flowing in as well. After 47 new appeals were still under consideration, 6 athletes, 7 supports staff members have also appealed for their bans to be reconsidered. 

“The applicants are challenging the IOC’s refusal to invite them to participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games. They request that CAS overturn the IOC decision and allow them to participate in these Game,” a CAS statement read, reported AFP.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had banned Russia from all international events after the state-sponsored doping conspiracy came to light. The IOC had, however, left a loophole in the judgement stating that the “clean” athletes could opt to take part in the events if they were willing to do it under a neutral flag.

Even after the CAS, who were criticized for their ruling, had lifted the bans on the 28 athletes the IOC, in no uncertain terms, had refused to allow their participation in the Games.

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