Yuliya Stepanova asks for review into Rio 2016 Olympic Games ban
Monday 25 July 2016 18:17, UK
Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova has asked for a review of the decision to ban her from next month's Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled on Sunday that 800m runner Stepanova cannot compete as a neutral despite her role in uncovering a state-sponsored doping programme that threatens the participation of all Russian athletes in Rio de Janeiro.
The IOC board sought the advice of its ethics commission, which said "the circumstances in which she denounced the doping practices which she had used herself, do not satisfy the ethical requirements for an athlete to enter the Olympic Games."
The IOC instead recognised Stepanova's contribution to anti-doping by inviting her and her husband to attend the Games as guests.
But in a letter to IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper they wrote: "We never blew the whistle with the intent to getting a spectators' invitation to Rio.
"We respectfully decline your invitation as spectators, but kindly ask you to give Yuliya the fair treatment she deserves."
The decision to exclude Stepanova has been branded "incomprehensible" by the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
