Rio DreamLONDON – Insidethegames informs that Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova has asked the IOC to review the decision to ban her from next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 800 metres runner was yesterday ruled ineligible to compete as a neutral athlete by the IOC Ethics Commission due to her “long implication in a doping system”.

In a statement, Stepanova claimed the IOC decision would put off future whistleblowers from coming forward and that it contradicted previous decisions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The WADA has said it is “very concerned” by the message that Stepanova’s ban from Rio 2016 sends to future whistleblowers. The IOC had stated that they will invite Stepanova and her husband, fellow whistleblower Vitaliy Stepanov, to Rio 2016, while they claim to be ready to support her in continuing her sports career and potentially joining a National Olympic Committee.

However, the offer has been turned down with the pair saying in a joint letter that “they never blew the whistle with the intent of getting a spectators’ invitation to Rio”.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here