IOC chief 'disappointed' over lifting of Russian doping bans

February 05, 2018 | 10:15
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PYEONGCHANG, South Korea: A decision by the top sport's court to lift life bans for doping on 28 Russian athletes was "extremely disappointing and surprising", IOC chief Thomas Bach said on Sunday (Feb 4).
ioc chief disappointed over lifting of russian doping bans
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the decision by the top sport's court to lift life doping bans on 28 Russian athletes came as a complete surprise to the IOC AFP/Fabrice COFFRINI

He said that the decision came as a complete surprise to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"We would never have expected this," Bach told a press conference in Pyeongchang just five days ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympic Games.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday upheld the appeals of the 28 Russians against life bans, ruling that there was "insufficient" evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Games, hosted by Russia.

AFP

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