AC Milan have been banned from the 2019-20 Europa League competition for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, sport's highest court CAS said on Friday.

The seven-times European champions finished fifth in Serie A last season to qualify for Europe's second-tier competition.

Milan's ban means AS Roma, who came sixth in the standings, move up to the Europa League group stage while their place in the qualifying rounds is taken by seventh-placed Torino.

"CAS has issued a consent award embodying the agreement reached between AC Milan and UEFA concerning breaches of the FFP regulations by the Italian club," the Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement.

"AC Milan is excluded from participating in the UEFA club competitions of the sporting season 2019/2020 as a consequence of the breach of its FFP break-even obligations during the 2015/2016/2017 and the 2016/2017/2018 monitoring periods."

Under UEFA regulations any club spending more than the revenue they generate may face sanctions, including a possible ban from the competitions run by the European governing body.

In April, Milan were reported by UEFA investigators over an alleged new breach of the break-even rule in its most recent monitoring period and the case was passed to its financial adjudicators.

UEFA said the referral was not connected to a previous case against Milan which saw the club banned and reprieved on appeal.

Milan were given a one-season suspension from European football in June last year after UEFA ruled that the club had not complied with FFP rules for the previous monitoring period.

Milan appealed to CAS which overturned the ban the following month, accepting the club's argument that its finances had improved after an ownership change.

Milan were then able to take part in last season's Europa League, which they exited in the group stage, while UEFA was ordered by CAS to find an alternative punishment.

In its revised decision in December, UEFA gave Milan until June 2021 to comply with rules or face a one-season ban from European competition.

AC Milan have been banned from the 2019-20 Europa League competition for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, sport's highest court CAS said on Friday.

AC Milan have been banned from the 2019-20 Europa League competition for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, sport's highest court CAS said on Friday. The seven-times European champions finished fifth in Serie A last season to qualify for Europe's second-tier competition. Milan's ban means AS Roma, who came sixth in the standings, move up to the Europa League group stage while their place in the qualifying rounds is taken by seventh-placed Torino. "CAS has issued a consent award embodying the agreement reached between AC Milan and UEFA concerning breaches of the FFP regulations by the Italian club," the Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement. "AC Milan is excluded from participating in the UEFA club competitions of the sporting season 2019/2020 as a consequence of the breach of its FFP break-even obligations during the 2015/2016/2017 and the 2016/2017/2018 monitoring periods." Under UEFA regulations any club spending more than the revenue they generate may face sanctions, including a possible ban from the competitions run by the European governing body. In April, Milan were reported by UEFA investigators over an alleged new breach of the break-even rule in its most recent monitoring period and the case was passed to its financial adjudicators. UEFA said the referral was not connected to a previous case against Milan which saw the club banned and reprieved on appeal. Milan were given a one-season suspension from European football in June last year after UEFA ruled that the club had not complied with FFP rules for the previous monitoring period. Milan appealed to CAS which overturned the ban the following month, accepting the club's argument that its finances had improved after an ownership change. Milan were then able to take part in last season's Europa League, which they exited in the group stage, while UEFA was ordered by CAS to find an alternative punishment. In its revised decision in December, UEFA gave Milan until June 2021 to comply with rules or face a one-season ban from European competition.

AC Milan banned from 2019-20 Europa League for Financial Fair Play breach: CAS

Olympic 800 metres champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Caster+Semenya">Caster Semenya</a> has accused the global athletics governing body of using her as a human guinea pig as it emerged that the IAAF had sought to have her declared a "biological male" in proceedings before sport's highest court.

The South African was reacting to the full 163-page judgement released by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday which rejected her appeal against rules that mean middle distance female athletes with a high natural level of testosterone must take medication to reduce it.

Testosterone increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin, which affects endurance. Some competitors have said women with higher levels of the hormone have an unfair advantage.

Last month, CAS upheld the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) eligibility regulations for XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) competing in events ranging from 400 metres to a mile.

The IAAF stated before the five-day hearing earlier this year that DSD athletes such as Semenya should not be classified as "biological males" but, according to the full CAS judgement, it suggested the opposite in court proceedings.

"Despite the CAS’s clear statements about Caster Semenya’s gender, the IAAF has taken it upon itself to decide who is, and who is not, woman enough in the eyes of the IAAF, and to discriminate on that basis," Semenya’s lawyers said in a statement on Tuesday.

"While the IAAF publicly claims that it is not engaged in sex testing, the CAS Award makes it clear that the IAAF is doing exactly that.

"The IAAF’s regulations are the most recent in a long chain of sex-testing rules that have plagued women’s sport for decades and caused profound harm to women athletes."

Oral Contraceptives

Semenya has hit out at the use of oral contraceptives as one of the methods suggested by the IAAF to lower testosterone levels in DSD athletes, saying her previous forced stint on the medication earlier in her career had been debilitating and the long-term side-effects remain unknown.

"The IAAF used me in the past as a human guinea pig to experiment with how the medication they required me to take would affect my testosterone levels," Semenya said.

"Even though the hormonal drugs made me feel constantly sick, the IAAF now wants to enforce even stricter thresholds with unknown health consequences. I will not allow the IAAF to use me and my body again.

"But I am concerned that other female athletes will feel compelled to let the IAAF drug them and test the effectiveness and negative health effects of different hormonal drugs. This cannot be allowed to happen."

Semenya and Athletics South Africa are currently challenging the CAS ruling in the Swiss Federal Tribunal, with their submissions and those of the IAAF to be made by June 25.

Until then she is free to run in all events without taking medication.

Semenya's agent said on Tuesday that she would be competing in an 800 metres race at the Prefontaine Classic on June 30.

IAAF response

The IAAF issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the CAS judgement backed its implementation of the eligibility regulations in order to preserve the future of female athletics.

"Sport is one of only a few, narrow sectors of society in which biology has to trump gender identity to ensure fairness," the statement said.

"To define the female category based on something other than biology would be category defeating and would deter many girls around the world from choosing competitive and elite sport after puberty.

"The IAAF considers that the DSD Regulations are a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair and meaningful competition in elite female athletics, and the CAS agreed."

Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya has accused the global athletics governing body of using her as a human guinea pig as it emerged that the IAAF had sought to have her declared a "biological male" in proceedings before sport's highest court.

Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya has accused the global athletics governing body of using her as a human guinea pig as it emerged that the IAAF had sought to have her declared a "biological male" in proceedings before sport's highest court. The South African was reacting to the full 163-page judgement released by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday which rejected her appeal against rules that mean middle distance female athletes with a high natural level of testosterone must take medication to reduce it. Testosterone increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin, which affects endurance. Some competitors have said women with higher levels of the hormone have an unfair advantage. Last month, CAS upheld the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) eligibility regulations for XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) competing in events ranging from 400 metres to a mile. The IAAF stated before the five-day hearing earlier this year that DSD athletes such as Semenya should not be classified as "biological males" but, according to the full CAS judgement, it suggested the opposite in court proceedings. "Despite the CAS’s clear statements about Caster Semenya’s gender, the IAAF has taken it upon itself to decide who is, and who is not, woman enough in the eyes of the IAAF, and to discriminate on that basis," Semenya’s lawyers said in a statement on Tuesday. "While the IAAF publicly claims that it is not engaged in sex testing, the CAS Award makes it clear that the IAAF is doing exactly that. "The IAAF’s regulations are the most recent in a long chain of sex-testing rules that have plagued women’s sport for decades and caused profound harm to women athletes." Oral Contraceptives Semenya has hit out at the use of oral contraceptives as one of the methods suggested by the IAAF to lower testosterone levels in DSD athletes, saying her previous forced stint on the medication earlier in her career had been debilitating and the long-term side-effects remain unknown. "The IAAF used me in the past as a human guinea pig to experiment with how the medication they required me to take would affect my testosterone levels," Semenya said. "Even though the hormonal drugs made me feel constantly sick, the IAAF now wants to enforce even stricter thresholds with unknown health consequences. I will not allow the IAAF to use me and my body again. "But I am concerned that other female athletes will feel compelled to let the IAAF drug them and test the effectiveness and negative health effects of different hormonal drugs. This cannot be allowed to happen." Semenya and Athletics South Africa are currently challenging the CAS ruling in the Swiss Federal Tribunal, with their submissions and those of the IAAF to be made by June 25. Until then she is free to run in all events without taking medication. Semenya's agent said on Tuesday that she would be competing in an 800 metres race at the Prefontaine Classic on June 30. IAAF response The IAAF issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the CAS judgement backed its implementation of the eligibility regulations in order to preserve the future of female athletics. "Sport is one of only a few, narrow sectors of society in which biology has to trump gender identity to ensure fairness," the statement said. "To define the female category based on something other than biology would be category defeating and would deter many girls around the world from choosing competitive and elite sport after puberty. "The IAAF considers that the DSD Regulations are a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair and meaningful competition in elite female athletics, and the CAS agreed."

Caster Semenya accuses IAAF of using her as a 'human guinea pig'

English Premier League side Chelsea have filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a transfer ban imposed by world soccer governing body <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-to-hear-chelsea-transfer-ban-appeal-on-april-11-205692&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiekfKYiNfiAhVk6nMBHWyHCXoQFjABegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0IrV6Yq-BsVvMQDHxebUkL">FIFA</a>, the CAS said on Friday.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/europa-league-hazard-scores-twice-as-chelsea-thrash-arsenal-in-final-222607&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiBprqOiNfiAhWh63MBHfSQB3MQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QiRJz0foD3nZc5qV6T0DD">The Europa League champions</a> were sanctioned in February for breaching rules regarding the international transfer and registration of players under 18. They were also fined 600,000 Swiss francs ($603,864.73).

The transfer ban prevents Chelsea from signing players in the close season and in the January transfer window in 2020 and CAS said they had registered the club's appeal, which could be considered just by written submissions.

"Following the hearing, if one is held... the panel deliberates and then issues its decision in the form of an Arbitral Award. It is not possible to say at this time when the Arbitral Award will be issued," the CAS statement read.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelsea-lose-transfer-ban-appeal-but-can-register-minor-players-says-fifa-217035&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiekfKYiNfiAhVk6nMBHWyHCXoQFjAAegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_37kO6aADujWEg1tgxigi">Chelsea </a>had initially appealed against FIFA's ban in April and FIFA's Appeal Committee partially upheld the appeal, allowing the London club to register youth players during the period.

The club refuted FIFA's findings and had said last month they would appeal the decision to the CAS.

The CAS also said they would not provide any more information on the matter until the panel came to a decision.

English Premier League side Chelsea have filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a transfer ban imposed by world soccer governing body FIFA, the CAS said on Friday.

English Premier League side Chelsea have filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a transfer ban imposed by world soccer governing body FIFA, the CAS said on Friday. The Europa League champions were sanctioned in February for breaching rules regarding the international transfer and registration of players under 18. They were also fined 600,000 Swiss francs ($603,864.73). The transfer ban prevents Chelsea from signing players in the close season and in the January transfer window in 2020 and CAS said they had registered the club's appeal, which could be considered just by written submissions. "Following the hearing, if one is held... the panel deliberates and then issues its decision in the form of an Arbitral Award. It is not possible to say at this time when the Arbitral Award will be issued," the CAS statement read. Chelsea had initially appealed against FIFA's ban in April and FIFA's Appeal Committee partially upheld the appeal, allowing the London club to register youth players during the period. The club refuted FIFA's findings and had said last month they would appeal the decision to the CAS. The CAS also said they would not provide any more information on the matter until the panel came to a decision.

Chelsea file appeal against FIFA transfer ban to CAS

Double Olympic champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Caster+Semenya">Caster Semenya</a> will be able to run in her favoured 800 metres event without medication to lower her testosterone levels until an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal has been ruled on, her lawyers said on Monday.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had ruled the International Association of Athletics Federations regulations were necessary for XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) competing in events ranging from 400 metres to a mile.

The CAS verdict, challenged by South African Semenya, was highly controversial, with many high-profile current and former athletes lining up on both sides of the debate.

"The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland has ordered the IAAF to immediately suspend the implementation of the eligibility regulations against Caster Semenya, allowing her to compete without restriction in the female category while her

appeal is pending," a statement from Semenya’s lawyers said.

No time frame has been given for when a final ruling might be made, but the IAAF will make further submissions to the court, the statement said.

"The Swiss Supreme Court has granted welcome temporary protection to Caster Semenya. This is an important case that will have fundamental implications for the human rights of female athletes," added Dorothee Schramm of Sidley Austin LLP, Swiss counsel for Semenya.

The IAAF said it had not yet been notified of the suspension.

"We have received no information from the Swiss Federal Court so we cannot comment at this stage," an IAAF spokesperson said.

Speaking through her lawyers, Semenya said she remains hopeful of her appeal being successful.

"I am thankful to the Swiss judges for this decision. I hope that following my appeal I will once again be able to run free,” she said.

The IAAF did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Semenya won her last competitive 800 metres race at the Doha Diamond League on May 3, and could potentially race again in Oslo on June 13.

Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin and the IAAF said its own research showed it gave a significant endurance advantage to athletes in the 400 metres-mile range.

Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya will be able to run in her favoured 800 metres event without medication to lower her testosterone levels until an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal has been ruled on, her lawyers said on Monday.

Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya will be able to run in her favoured 800 metres event without medication to lower her testosterone levels until an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal has been ruled on, her lawyers said on Monday. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had ruled the International Association of Athletics Federations regulations were necessary for XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) competing in events ranging from 400 metres to a mile. The CAS verdict, challenged by South African Semenya, was highly controversial, with many high-profile current and former athletes lining up on both sides of the debate. "The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland has ordered the IAAF to immediately suspend the implementation of the eligibility regulations against Caster Semenya, allowing her to compete without restriction in the female category while her appeal is pending," a statement from Semenya’s lawyers said. No time frame has been given for when a final ruling might be made, but the IAAF will make further submissions to the court, the statement said. "The Swiss Supreme Court has granted welcome temporary protection to Caster Semenya. This is an important case that will have fundamental implications for the human rights of female athletes," added Dorothee Schramm of Sidley Austin LLP, Swiss counsel for Semenya. The IAAF said it had not yet been notified of the suspension. "We have received no information from the Swiss Federal Court so we cannot comment at this stage," an IAAF spokesperson said. Speaking through her lawyers, Semenya said she remains hopeful of her appeal being successful. "I am thankful to the Swiss judges for this decision. I hope that following my appeal I will once again be able to run free,” she said. The IAAF did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Semenya won her last competitive 800 metres race at the Doha Diamond League on May 3, and could potentially race again in Oslo on June 13. Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin and the IAAF said its own research showed it gave a significant endurance advantage to athletes in the 400 metres-mile range.

Caster Semenya free to run without medication while appeal is heard: Court

European football's financial regulators are poised to recommend that newly minted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-key-players-that-led-manchester-city-to-english-premier-league-glory-218210">Premier League champions Manchester City</a> be barred from the Champions League, the New York Times reported Monday.

European football's governing body UEFA and the Premier League launched an investigation this year after allegations made in German magazine Der Spiegel that the club broke Financial Fair Play rules.

Members of the investigatory chamber of UEFA's financial control board, set up to analyze the accounts of clubs suspected of breaking cost-control regulations, met two weeks ago in Switzerland to finalize their conclusions, the newspaper said.

"The investigatory panel’s leader, the former prime minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, will have the final say on the submission to a separate adjudicatory chamber, which could be filed as soon as this week. The body is expected to seek at least a one-season ban," the Times said.

It was unclear if such a ban, if levied, would be enforced next season or in the 2020-21 campaign, the Times said, noting that with qualifying for Europe's most prestigious and lucrative club championship set to start in June there is little time to finalize a sanction.

Manchester City would also have the right to appeal such a ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Manchester City vigorously denied any financial irregularities, saying in March they welcomed UEFA's investigation as an opportunity to clear their name.

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City, who were fined 60 million euros ($67.3 million) and subjected to squad, wage and spending caps in a 2014 settlement agreed with UEFA following a previous breach of the rules.

But the club says the claims made in Der Spiegel were an "organized and clear" attempt to damage its reputation.

European football's financial regulators are poised to recommend that newly minted Premier League champions Manchester City be barred from the Champions League, the New York Times reported Monday.

European football's financial regulators are poised to recommend that newly minted Premier League champions Manchester City be barred from the Champions League, the New York Times reported Monday. European football's governing body UEFA and the Premier League launched an investigation this year after allegations made in German magazine Der Spiegel that the club broke Financial Fair Play rules. Members of the investigatory chamber of UEFA's financial control board, set up to analyze the accounts of clubs suspected of breaking cost-control regulations, met two weeks ago in Switzerland to finalize their conclusions, the newspaper said. "The investigatory panel’s leader, the former prime minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, will have the final say on the submission to a separate adjudicatory chamber, which could be filed as soon as this week. The body is expected to seek at least a one-season ban," the Times said. It was unclear if such a ban, if levied, would be enforced next season or in the 2020-21 campaign, the Times said, noting that with qualifying for Europe's most prestigious and lucrative club championship set to start in June there is little time to finalize a sanction. Manchester City would also have the right to appeal such a ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Manchester City vigorously denied any financial irregularities, saying in March they welcomed UEFA's investigation as an opportunity to clear their name. × City, who were fined 60 million euros ($67.3 million) and subjected to squad, wage and spending caps in a 2014 settlement agreed with UEFA following a previous breach of the rules. But the club says the claims made in Der Spiegel were an "organized and clear" attempt to damage its reputation.

UEFA panel may recommend Manchester City Champions League ban: Report

The South African government said on Monday it was "instructing" the country's athletics governing body to appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision on female eligibility that directly affects their Olympic champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Caster+Semenya">Caster Semenya</a>.

Yet Athletics South Africa (ASA) maintained <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/trampling-on-rights-and-dignity-south-africans-livid-at-caster-semenya-decision-215211">silence on the matter</a> with sources telling Reuters they were still considering their options and would not be issuing any statement until ready.

Any appeal would have to be made by the end of the month to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

Sport minister Tokozile Xasa, who has no direct authority over ASA, said in a statement she was making the instruction after receiving advice from a high-level panel.

The panel had met to discuss the way forward after CAS ruled that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) could go ahead with its regulations on female runners with differences of sex development (DSD).

Athletes like the double Olympic 800m champion Semenya with male XY chromosomes must now take medication to lower naturally occurring high levels of testosterone before being allowed to compete in women's races from 400m to a mile.

Xasa's claim followed a similar call from South Africa's Olympic chiefs last week and she went a step further by confidently predicting ASA would appeal and then summarising three grounds for that appeal in her statement.

"ASA applied for recusal of two of the arbitrators who it felt were conflicted since they have handled the earlier case of the Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, as Caster was also going to be an affected athlete," the statement said.

"The strength of scientific, medical and legal case we presented, we believe, the outcome is inconceivable on the facts. The facts before (the) court and the outcome do not match.

"The pertinent legal questions that the court should have addressed we (believe were) not addressed. The court simply gave the unfettered latitude to the IAAF to do as it pleases.

"For instance, it has not been answered as to how the IAAF will implement the regulations and how ethical issues will be addressed."

The South African government said on Monday it was "instructing" the country's athletics governing body to appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision on female eligibility that directly affects their Olympic champion Caster Semenya.

The South African government said on Monday it was "instructing" the country's athletics governing body to appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision on female eligibility that directly affects their Olympic champion Caster Semenya. Yet Athletics South Africa (ASA) maintained silence on the matter with sources telling Reuters they were still considering their options and would not be issuing any statement until ready. Any appeal would have to be made by the end of the month to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. Sport minister Tokozile Xasa, who has no direct authority over ASA, said in a statement she was making the instruction after receiving advice from a high-level panel. The panel had met to discuss the way forward after CAS ruled that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) could go ahead with its regulations on female runners with differences of sex development (DSD). Athletes like the double Olympic 800m champion Semenya with male XY chromosomes must now take medication to lower naturally occurring high levels of testosterone before being allowed to compete in women's races from 400m to a mile. Xasa's claim followed a similar call from South Africa's Olympic chiefs last week and she went a step further by confidently predicting ASA would appeal and then summarising three grounds for that appeal in her statement. "ASA applied for recusal of two of the arbitrators who it felt were conflicted since they have handled the earlier case of the Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, as Caster was also going to be an affected athlete," the statement said. "The strength of scientific, medical and legal case we presented, we believe, the outcome is inconceivable on the facts. The facts before (the) court and the outcome do not match. "The pertinent legal questions that the court should have addressed we (believe were) not addressed. The court simply gave the unfettered latitude to the IAAF to do as it pleases. "For instance, it has not been answered as to how the IAAF will implement the regulations and how ethical issues will be addressed."

South African government instructs athletics body to appeal Caster Semenya decision

South African fans of Olympian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cas-dismisses-caster-semenya-appeal-over-iaaf-testosterone-regulations-215042">Caster Semenya Wednesday expressed shock and disappointment</a> after their star athlete lost a bid to challenge IAAF rules forcing female athletes to regulate their testosterone levels.&nbsp;

In a landmark ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the IAAF regulations which require women like Semenya, with higher than average natural female testosterone levels, to take medically-prescribed drugs to lower their testosterone levels or be kicked out of competitions.&nbsp;

"We are bitterly disappointed," said Bathabile Dlamini, the minister for women.&nbsp;

"This is a disappointing judgement, it actually removes Caster Semenya's agency as person, as an athlete, as a person who trains hard," Dlamini said.&nbsp;

"As the department of women we are particularly angered (that) we are expected to conform to western notions ...for our athletes to compete".&nbsp;

She said Semenya was being targeted because "she is so successful through&nbsp;her hard training and her dedication".

"It's a violation of her rights as a woman, the violation of her rights as human being".

'Beyond outrageous'

Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa said the "regulations trample on the human rights and dignity" of the 28-year-old who was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2019.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) said it was "deeply disappointed and profoundly shocked" that the Court had ruled in favour of the new regulations, and that it would consider appealing the "disgraceful" decision.

"We are ... reeling in shock at how a body held in high esteem like CAS can endorse discrimination without flinching.

"South Africa knows discrimination better and CAS has seen it fit to open the wounds of apartheid, a system of discrimination condemned by the whole world as a crime against humanity," said ASA in a statement.&nbsp;

'Reeling in shock'

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) said it was "appalled" by the court decision.

"It is rather disheartening to learn that the Court has ruled against Caster Semenya in her fight to be treated equally and without prejudice," it said in a statement.

It accused the IAAF of "acting in a prejudicial manner that divides rather than unites athletes."&nbsp;

"Shocked" by the decision, the main opposition Democratic Alliance party called on the government and sporting federations to "use all available processes to oppose this decision and fight for her right to compete on the international stage without having to take any drugs to suppress what she was naturally born to do".

Semenya, who has dominated the 800m over the last decade and had remained largely silent through the court battle, on Wednesday vowed in a statement that the court decision "will not hold me back".&nbsp;

She said she knew "that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger".&nbsp;

"I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world." &nbsp;

On social media her fans were furious.&nbsp;

From Cape Town, one tweeted that the decision was "beyond outrageous" adding "I thought sport was about not putting hormones in your body".&nbsp;

A Pretoria-based fan wrote the CAS decision smacked "of racism, sexism and bigotry rolled into one".&nbsp;

South African fans of Olympian Caster Semenya Wednesday expressed shock and disappointment after their star athlete lost a bid to challenge IAAF rules forcing female athletes to regulate their testosterone levels.

South African fans of Olympian Caster Semenya Wednesday expressed shock and disappointment after their star athlete lost a bid to challenge IAAF rules forcing female athletes to regulate their testosterone levels. In a landmark ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the IAAF regulations which require women like Semenya, with higher than average natural female testosterone levels, to take medically-prescribed drugs to lower their testosterone levels or be kicked out of competitions. "We are bitterly disappointed," said Bathabile Dlamini, the minister for women. "This is a disappointing judgement, it actually removes Caster Semenya's agency as person, as an athlete, as a person who trains hard," Dlamini said. "As the department of women we are particularly angered (that) we are expected to conform to western notions ...for our athletes to compete". She said Semenya was being targeted because "she is so successful through her hard training and her dedication". "It's a violation of her rights as a woman, the violation of her rights as human being". 'Beyond outrageous' Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa said the "regulations trample on the human rights and dignity" of the 28-year-old who was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2019. Athletics South Africa (ASA) said it was "deeply disappointed and profoundly shocked" that the Court had ruled in favour of the new regulations, and that it would consider appealing the "disgraceful" decision. "We are ... reeling in shock at how a body held in high esteem like CAS can endorse discrimination without flinching. "South Africa knows discrimination better and CAS has seen it fit to open the wounds of apartheid, a system of discrimination condemned by the whole world as a crime against humanity," said ASA in a statement. 'Reeling in shock' The ruling African National Congress (ANC) said it was "appalled" by the court decision. "It is rather disheartening to learn that the Court has ruled against Caster Semenya in her fight to be treated equally and without prejudice," it said in a statement. It accused the IAAF of "acting in a prejudicial manner that divides rather than unites athletes." "Shocked" by the decision, the main opposition Democratic Alliance party called on the government and sporting federations to "use all available processes to oppose this decision and fight for her right to compete on the international stage without having to take any drugs to suppress what she was naturally born to do". Semenya, who has dominated the 800m over the last decade and had remained largely silent through the court battle, on Wednesday vowed in a statement that the court decision "will not hold me back". She said she knew "that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger". "I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world." On social media her fans were furious. From Cape Town, one tweeted that the decision was "beyond outrageous" adding "I thought sport was about not putting hormones in your body". A Pretoria-based fan wrote the CAS decision smacked "of racism, sexism and bigotry rolled into one".

'Trampling on rights and dignity': South Africans livid at Caster Semenya decision

Olympic 800-metres champion Caster Semenya has had an appeal dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to halt the introduction of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/caster-semenya-says-she-is-unquestionably-a-woman-197551">regulations to limit testosterone in female athletes</a> with differences in sexual development (DSDs).

CAS ruled on Wednesday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/caster-semenya-takes-gender-rule-challenge-to-sports-court-198087">International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) regulations are needed to ensure</a> fair competition between athletes who compete in events ranging from 400-metres to a mile, previously calling the hearing one of the most important ever to appear before the court.

It means that Semenya and other affected athletes hoping to compete at the World Championships in Doha in September would have to start taking medication to lower their testosterone level to below the required five (5) nmol/L within one week.

It is a special concession made by the IAAF due to the length of time it has taken CAS to reach a verdict. However, in future athletes will be required to have reduced their blood testosterone level to below the stipulated concentration for a period of six months before they can compete.

According to a media release on Wednesday, "The Panel found that the DSD Regulations are discriminatory, but the majority of the Panel found that, on the basis of the evidence submitted by the parties, such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the Restricted Events.

"By majority, the CAS Panel has dismissed the requests for arbitration considering that the Claimants were unable to establish that the DSD Regulations were "invalid"."

However, in a 165-page award, the CAS Panel expressed some serious concerns as to the future practical application of these DSD Regulations.

The case is likely have wide-reaching consequences, not just for the future of athletics, but all women's sport, and has split opinion around the globe.

The IAAF believe the regulations are necessary to "preserve fair competition in the female category", and have received a large amount of support from current and former athletes.

But the governing body has also come in for criticism from human rights organisations over their wish to medically alter naturally produced levels of testosterone, with the United Nations Human Rights Council adopting a resolution in support of Semenya in March.

The South African will be the most high-profile athlete to be affected, but others include 2018 Olympic silver medallist in the 800-metres, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi.

Semenya took potential steps to reinvent her career last week when she won the 5,000-metres at the South African Athletics Championships in a modest time of 16:05.97, an event that would allow her to compete outside of the IAAF regulations.

Other sporting bodies are believed to have kept a close eye on the CAS case and with the precedent in place, may now set their own parameters for participation by DSD and transgender athletes in their individual codes.

Olympic 800-metres champion Caster Semenya has had an appeal dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to halt the introduction of regulations to limit testosterone in female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs).

Olympic 800-metres champion Caster Semenya has had an appeal dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to halt the introduction of regulations to limit testosterone in female athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs). CAS ruled on Wednesday that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) regulations are needed to ensure fair competition between athletes who compete in events ranging from 400-metres to a mile, previously calling the hearing one of the most important ever to appear before the court. It means that Semenya and other affected athletes hoping to compete at the World Championships in Doha in September would have to start taking medication to lower their testosterone level to below the required five (5) nmol/L within one week. It is a special concession made by the IAAF due to the length of time it has taken CAS to reach a verdict. However, in future athletes will be required to have reduced their blood testosterone level to below the stipulated concentration for a period of six months before they can compete. According to a media release on Wednesday, "The Panel found that the DSD Regulations are discriminatory, but the majority of the Panel found that, on the basis of the evidence submitted by the parties, such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the Restricted Events. "By majority, the CAS Panel has dismissed the requests for arbitration considering that the Claimants were unable to establish that the DSD Regulations were "invalid"." However, in a 165-page award, the CAS Panel expressed some serious concerns as to the future practical application of these DSD Regulations. The case is likely have wide-reaching consequences, not just for the future of athletics, but all women's sport, and has split opinion around the globe. The IAAF believe the regulations are necessary to "preserve fair competition in the female category", and have received a large amount of support from current and former athletes. But the governing body has also come in for criticism from human rights organisations over their wish to medically alter naturally produced levels of testosterone, with the United Nations Human Rights Council adopting a resolution in support of Semenya in March. The South African will be the most high-profile athlete to be affected, but others include 2018 Olympic silver medallist in the 800-metres, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi. Semenya took potential steps to reinvent her career last week when she won the 5,000-metres at the South African Athletics Championships in a modest time of 16:05.97, an event that would allow her to compete outside of the IAAF regulations. Other sporting bodies are believed to have kept a close eye on the CAS case and with the precedent in place, may now set their own parameters for participation by DSD and transgender athletes in their individual codes.

CAS dismisses Caster Semenya appeal over IAAF testosterone regulations

Double Olympic 800 metres champion <a href="http://www.wionews.com/search?q=Caster+Semenya">Caster Semenya</a> said Tuesday that proposed rules that would oblige her to lower her testosterone levels "do not empower anyone".

The South African appeared Monday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne at the start of a landmark hearing to challenge the rules proposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The controversial measures would force so-called "hyperandrogenic" athletes or those with "differences of sexual development" (DSD) to seek treatment to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount if they wish to continue competing as women.

A statement issued by Semenya's legal team said she believes "she and other women affected by the regulations should be permitted to compete in the female category without discrimination" and that they should be "celebrated for their natural talents as are all other athletes with genetic variations".

The statement continued, "The IAAF's regulations do not empower anyone. Rather, they represent yet another flawed and hurtful attempt to police the sex of female athletes."

The IAAF says it is introducing the rules to create a "level playing field" for other female runners.

The track and field body says, "If a DSD athlete has testes and male levels of testosterone, they get the same increases in bone and muscle size and strength and increases in haemoglobin that a male gets when they go through puberty, which is what gives men such a performance advantage over women."

On Monday, Semenya accused the IAAF of breaching confidentiality rules after it published the names of five expert witnesses who will appear to testify on its behalf.

Semenya published her own list of expert witnesses who will speak in support of her this week, including Professor Veronica Gomez-Lobo, professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Georgetown University in the United States.

The South African government says the rules specifically target Semenya and has called them a "gross violation" of her human rights.

Semenya is not the only athlete potentially affected by the new rules -- the two athletes who finished behind her in the Rio Olympics 800m, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels.

A judgement in the case is expected by the end of March.

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya said Tuesday that proposed rules that would oblige her to lower her testosterone levels "do not empower anyone".

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya said Tuesday that proposed rules that would oblige her to lower her testosterone levels "do not empower anyone". The South African appeared Monday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne at the start of a landmark hearing to challenge the rules proposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The controversial measures would force so-called "hyperandrogenic" athletes or those with "differences of sexual development" (DSD) to seek treatment to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount if they wish to continue competing as women. A statement issued by Semenya's legal team said she believes "she and other women affected by the regulations should be permitted to compete in the female category without discrimination" and that they should be "celebrated for their natural talents as are all other athletes with genetic variations". The statement continued, "The IAAF's regulations do not empower anyone. Rather, they represent yet another flawed and hurtful attempt to police the sex of female athletes." The IAAF says it is introducing the rules to create a "level playing field" for other female runners. The track and field body says, "If a DSD athlete has testes and male levels of testosterone, they get the same increases in bone and muscle size and strength and increases in haemoglobin that a male gets when they go through puberty, which is what gives men such a performance advantage over women." On Monday, Semenya accused the IAAF of breaching confidentiality rules after it published the names of five expert witnesses who will appear to testify on its behalf. Semenya published her own list of expert witnesses who will speak in support of her this week, including Professor Veronica Gomez-Lobo, professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Georgetown University in the United States. The South African government says the rules specifically target Semenya and has called them a "gross violation" of her human rights. Semenya is not the only athlete potentially affected by the new rules -- the two athletes who finished behind her in the Rio Olympics 800m, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels. A judgement in the case is expected by the end of March.

Caster Semenya says gender rules 'do not empower anyone'

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya has said she was "unquestionably a woman", after the IAAF denied reports that it would argue that she should be classified as a biological male.&nbsp;

Semenya, 28, issued the statement on Thursday ahead of a landmark hearing at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) next week that will challenge a proposed rule by the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) aiming to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.

"Ms Semenya is unquestionably a woman. She is a heroine and an inspiration to many around the world," her lawyers said in a statement.

"She asks that she be respected and treated as any other athlete." The rules would force so-called "hyperandrogenic" athletes or those with "differences of sexual development" (DSD) to keep testosterone levels below a prescribed amount.

The rules were to have been instituted in November 2018 but have been put on ice pending next week's hearings.

Supported by the South African Athletics Federation, the two-time Olympic champion in the 800m (2012, 2016) and three-time world champion (2009, 2011, 2017) has denounced the proposals.

"I just want to run naturally, the way I was born. It is not fair that I am told I must change. It is not fair that people question who I am," she has said previously.

"She looks forward to responding to the IAAF at the upcoming CAS hearing," Semenya's legal team said, adding that "her genetic gift should be celebrated, not discriminated against".

As well as Semenya, the silver and bronze medallists of the 800m at the Rio Olympics, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels.

"The IAAF is not classifying any DSD athlete as male," the IAAF said in a statement. "To preserve fair competition in the female category, it is necessary to require DSD athletes to reduce their testosterone down to female levels."&nbsp;

A CAS spokesman confirmed to AFP on Thursday that the hearing is scheduled for next week in Lausanne from Monday to Friday with Semenya in attendance.&nbsp;

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya has said she was "unquestionably a woman", after the IAAF denied reports that it would argue that she should be classified as a biological male.

South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya has said she was "unquestionably a woman", after the IAAF denied reports that it would argue that she should be classified as a biological male. Semenya, 28, issued the statement on Thursday ahead of a landmark hearing at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) next week that will challenge a proposed rule by the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) aiming to restrict testosterone levels in female runners. "Ms Semenya is unquestionably a woman. She is a heroine and an inspiration to many around the world," her lawyers said in a statement. "She asks that she be respected and treated as any other athlete." The rules would force so-called "hyperandrogenic" athletes or those with "differences of sexual development" (DSD) to keep testosterone levels below a prescribed amount. The rules were to have been instituted in November 2018 but have been put on ice pending next week's hearings. Supported by the South African Athletics Federation, the two-time Olympic champion in the 800m (2012, 2016) and three-time world champion (2009, 2011, 2017) has denounced the proposals. "I just want to run naturally, the way I was born. It is not fair that I am told I must change. It is not fair that people question who I am," she has said previously. "She looks forward to responding to the IAAF at the upcoming CAS hearing," Semenya's legal team said, adding that "her genetic gift should be celebrated, not discriminated against". As well as Semenya, the silver and bronze medallists of the 800m at the Rio Olympics, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels. "The IAAF is not classifying any DSD athlete as male," the IAAF said in a statement. "To preserve fair competition in the female category, it is necessary to require DSD athletes to reduce their testosterone down to female levels." A CAS spokesman confirmed to AFP on Thursday that the hearing is scheduled for next week in Lausanne from Monday to Friday with Semenya in attendance.

Caster Semenya says she is 'unquestionably a woman'

Russian Olympic curler Alexander Krushelnitsky has been found guilty of an anti-doping violation after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday.

CAS said the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) mixed doubles curling team, who won bronze at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, had been disqualified from the competition over the violation.

Krushelnitsky, who won the medal with his wife, had accepted a provisional suspension beyond the period of the Games, CAS said, adding that the athlete had &quot;reserved his rights to seek the elimination or reduction of any period of ineligibility&quot; following the Games.

The announcement came hours after CAS cancelled the hearing into the case at the request of the International Olympic Committee, the World Curling Federation and Krushelnitsky himself.

Dmitry Svishchev, president of Russia&#39;s curling federation, said he hoped giving up the medal was a temporary measure.

&quot;Unfortunately we have to part with the Olympic bronze medal,&quot; he said in a statement on the federation&#39;s website. &quot;I really hope and believe that this is temporary.&quot;

The doping case has come at a delicate time for Russia, which has been accused of running a state-backed, systematic doping program for years, an allegation Moscow denies.

Russians are competing at Pyeongchang as neutral athletes, and Russia had been hoping that a clean record at the Games would enable it to return to full Olympic status.

Krushelnitsky and his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova have agreed to surrender their medals, according to the Russian curling federation.

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said on Wednesday he hoped the Pyeongchang doping case would not impact the IOC&#39;s deliberations on whether to let Russia regain full Olympic status.

The IOC has said it might allow the Russians to march with the country&#39;s flag and in national uniform at the closing ceremony of the Games on Sunday, provided they have complied with its code of conduct on neutrality.

The code requires compliance with IOC anti-doping rules.

The Russian Olympic delegation has said it could not explain how meldonium had ended up in Krushelnitsky&#39;s body and pledged to investigate.

Dmitry Svishchev, president of Russia's curling federation, said he hoped giving up the medal was a temporary measure.

Russian Olympic curler Alexander Krushelnitsky has been found guilty of an anti-doping violation after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday. CAS said the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) mixed doubles curling team, who won bronze at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, had been disqualified from the competition over the violation. Krushelnitsky, who won the medal with his wife, had accepted a provisional suspension beyond the period of the Games, CAS said, adding that the athlete had "reserved his rights to seek the elimination or reduction of any period of ineligibility" following the Games. The announcement came hours after CAS cancelled the hearing into the case at the request of the International Olympic Committee, the World Curling Federation and Krushelnitsky himself. Dmitry Svishchev, president of Russia's curling federation, said he hoped giving up the medal was a temporary measure. "Unfortunately we have to part with the Olympic bronze medal," he said in a statement on the federation's website. "I really hope and believe that this is temporary." The doping case has come at a delicate time for Russia, which has been accused of running a state-backed, systematic doping program for years, an allegation Moscow denies. Russians are competing at Pyeongchang as neutral athletes, and Russia had been hoping that a clean record at the Games would enable it to return to full Olympic status. Krushelnitsky and his wife Anastasia Bryzgalova have agreed to surrender their medals, according to the Russian curling federation. Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said on Wednesday he hoped the Pyeongchang doping case would not impact the IOC's deliberations on whether to let Russia regain full Olympic status. The IOC has said it might allow the Russians to march with the country's flag and in national uniform at the closing ceremony of the Games on Sunday, provided they have complied with its code of conduct on neutrality. The code requires compliance with IOC anti-doping rules. The Russian Olympic delegation has said it could not explain how meldonium had ended up in Krushelnitsky's body and pledged to investigate.

Russian Olympian Krushelnitsky guilty of doping violation: CAS

Google celebrates winter games as the opening ceremony has started.

Winter Olympics is already underway,&nbsp;PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/google%201-20180209061926.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Google celebrates the 23rd Winter Olympics. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

This year&#39;s Winter Olympic games may set a new record for being the coldest since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the roofless Olympic Stadium, a pentagonal arena that can accommodate around 40,000 people.

Freezing weather at the Winter Olympics may force some athletes and staff to pull out of Friday&#39;s opening ceremony as Pyeongchang shivers in temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

&nbsp;

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world

Google celebrates winter games as the opening ceremony has started. Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25. The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world. The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament. Google celebrates the 23rd Winter Olympics. (Others) × This year's Winter Olympic games may set a new record for being the coldest since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the roofless Olympic Stadium, a pentagonal arena that can accommodate around 40,000 people. Freezing weather at the Winter Olympics may force some athletes and staff to pull out of Friday's opening ceremony as Pyeongchang shivers in temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Google celebrates 23rd Winter Olympics

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians.

The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information.

Organisers initially said the North Koreans and Iranians would be denied the devices due to UN sanctions on their countries.

Then the IOC said they would be provided for the Games, but the two countries&#39; representatives would be asked to return them afterwards rather than keep them.

It was not clear how the IOC would ensure compliance with the request.

But Yonhap news agency said the North Koreans at the Games had refused the phones. No reason was given, but Internet access is strictly limited in the North.

Pyongyang has sent 22 athletes to the Olympics, along with several officials.

An IOC spokesman was unable to confirm the reports when contacted by AFP.

The ban on Iranians keeping the phones had provoked a furious reaction in Teheran, with authorities blaming the manufacturer for the situation.

Iran&#39;s foreign ministry summoned South Korea&#39;s ambassador Kim Seung-ho to lodge a &quot;strong protest&quot; over what it called Samsung&#39;s &quot;dishonest conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games&quot;.

The ambassador was warned that &quot;if Samsung does not make its excuses... this affair will have strong repercussions on commercial relations between the Samsung Group and the Islamic Republic of Iran&quot;.

Samsung, the world&#39;s biggest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer, is a crucial part of South Korea&#39;s economy, with the group&#39;s turnover equivalent to a fifth of the national GDP.

The IOC later backed down.

&quot;Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones,&quot; it said in a statement late Thursday.

&quot;Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country but to only use them during their stay in Pyeongchang,&quot; it added.

The Galaxy Note 8 retails for around 1,000,000 South Korean won ($920) and so could fall foul of UN measures banning supplies of luxury goods to the North.

A Samsung spokeswoman stressed the electronics giant had nothing to do with the distribution of the handsets and all decisions were by the IOC.

The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians. The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information. Organisers initially said the North Koreans and Iranians would be denied the devices due to UN sanctions on their countries. Then the IOC said they would be provided for the Games, but the two countries' representatives would be asked to return them afterwards rather than keep them. It was not clear how the IOC would ensure compliance with the request. But Yonhap news agency said the North Koreans at the Games had refused the phones. No reason was given, but Internet access is strictly limited in the North. Pyongyang has sent 22 athletes to the Olympics, along with several officials. An IOC spokesman was unable to confirm the reports when contacted by AFP. The ban on Iranians keeping the phones had provoked a furious reaction in Teheran, with authorities blaming the manufacturer for the situation. Iran's foreign ministry summoned South Korea's ambassador Kim Seung-ho to lodge a "strong protest" over what it called Samsung's "dishonest conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games". The ambassador was warned that "if Samsung does not make its excuses... this affair will have strong repercussions on commercial relations between the Samsung Group and the Islamic Republic of Iran". Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer, is a crucial part of South Korea's economy, with the group's turnover equivalent to a fifth of the national GDP. The IOC later backed down. "Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones," it said in a statement late Thursday. "Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country but to only use them during their stay in Pyeongchang," it added. The Galaxy Note 8 retails for around 1,000,000 South Korean won ($920) and so could fall foul of UN measures banning supplies of luxury goods to the North. A Samsung spokeswoman stressed the electronics giant had nothing to do with the distribution of the handsets and all decisions were by the IOC.

North Koreans decline Olympic phones: reports

In December, the IOC had suspended Russia over a state-sponsored doping conspiracy culminating in its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The CAS drew criticism last week when it lifted life Olympic bans imposed on 28 Russians. But when 15 of them applied to take part in Pyeongchang, the IOC refused to give them invitations.

Now, forty-seven Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday.

&quot;The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed,&quot; CAS said in a statement, issued just hours before the Games&#39; opening ceremony.

Russia&#39;s team has been suspended from the Olympics over a systemic doping scandal, but the International Olympic Committee has allowed a group of Russians considered as clean athletes to take part.

Earlier, a&nbsp;group of 13 Russians lost a last-ditch bid to beat their country&#39;s doping ban.

&nbsp;

47 Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday

In December, the IOC had suspended Russia over a state-sponsored doping conspiracy culminating in its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The CAS drew criticism last week when it lifted life Olympic bans imposed on 28 Russians. But when 15 of them applied to take part in Pyeongchang, the IOC refused to give them invitations. Now, forty-seven Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday. "The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed," CAS said in a statement, issued just hours before the Games' opening ceremony. Russia's team has been suspended from the Olympics over a systemic doping scandal, but the International Olympic Committee has allowed a group of Russians considered as clean athletes to take part. Earlier, a group of 13 Russians lost a last-ditch bid to beat their country's doping ban.

47 Russians lose late court bid to compete at Olympics

The Court of Arbitration for&nbsp;Sport&nbsp;on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month&#39;s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang,&nbsp;sport&#39;s top court ruled there was &quot;insufficient&quot; evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia.

CAS said in its judgement: &quot;In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) was committed by the athletes concerned.&quot;

The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing at Pyeongchang as a team over the doping scandal, although 169 Russian competitors have been cleared to take part as neutrals.

Putin&#39;s spokesman says &#39;very glad&#39; at the lifting of the ban on 28 Russian athletes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/putin-orders-alternative-olympic-games-for-banned-athletes-31401">Putin orders alternative Olympic Games for banned athletes</a>

The decision given by Court of Arbitration for Sport could allow some of the athletes to compete in this month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, sport's top court ruled there was "insufficient" evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia. CAS said in its judgement: "In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) was committed by the athletes concerned." The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing at Pyeongchang as a team over the doping scandal, although 169 Russian competitors have been cleared to take part as neutrals. Putin's spokesman says 'very glad' at the lifting of the ban on 28 Russian athletes. Also read: Putin orders alternative Olympic Games for banned athletes

CAS clears 28 Russians athletes of doping, Putin 'very glad'

The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) will decide on Maria Sharapova&#39;s appeal against a two-year tennis ban in the first week of October, Reuters reported today.&nbsp; 
 
The five-time grand slam champion tested positive for meldonium, a banned drug, during Australian Open in January.&nbsp; 
 
She filed the petition three days after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) imposed the ban, seeking to either reduce the sentence or remove it. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a banned drug, during Australian Open in January?

The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) will decide on Maria Sharapova's appeal against a two-year tennis ban in the first week of October, Reuters reported today. The five-time grand slam champion tested positive for meldonium, a banned drug, during Australian Open in January. She filed the petition three days after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) imposed the ban, seeking to either reduce the sentence or remove it. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

CAS to rule on Sharapova doping ban appeal next month

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand made the cut for the women&#39;s 100m at the Rio Olympics today, less than a year after she was cleared to race following the Court of Arbitration for Sport&#39;s (CAS) ruling on gender testing guidelines. 
 
The Lausanne-based court suspended the governing International Association of Athletics Federations&#39; (IAAF) regulations regarding hyperandrogenism, a condition which produces high testosterone levels, for two years. 
 
It cleared the way for Chand to compete again in both domestic and international events after she was forced to sit out about a year of competition. 
 
She clocked a national record 11.30 seconds in the 100m heats at the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to qualify for the Rio Games, the qualifying mark for which was set at 11.32. 
 
&quot;I am really happy at the moment,&quot; she said in a statement. &quot;It has been a tough year for me and I am so happy that my coach ... and my hard work has paid off.&nbsp;I would like to thank all the people in India who were praying for me to qualify. Your wishes have paid off.&quot; 
 
The daughter of weavers from Odisha, Chand was dropped from India&#39;s contingent for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Incheon after her naturally-occurring testosterone levels were found to be in breach of IAAF&#39;s guidelines. 
 
She was advised to have surgery and take medication, but instead decided to challenge the guidelines at CAS, who asked the IAAF to present scientific evidence proving enhanced testosterone levels improved performance in hyperandrogenic athletes. 
 
South Africa&#39;s former world champion 800m runner Caster Semenya was also subjected to gender testing by the IAAF before being cleared to compete as a woman. 
 
The Rio Olympics take place from August 5-21. 
 
(Reuters)

Chand was dropped from Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after her high testosterone levels were found

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand made the cut for the women's 100m at the Rio Olympics today, less than a year after she was cleared to race following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ruling on gender testing guidelines. The Lausanne-based court suspended the governing International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) regulations regarding hyperandrogenism, a condition which produces high testosterone levels, for two years. It cleared the way for Chand to compete again in both domestic and international events after she was forced to sit out about a year of competition. She clocked a national record 11.30 seconds in the 100m heats at the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to qualify for the Rio Games, the qualifying mark for which was set at 11.32. "I am really happy at the moment," she said in a statement. "It has been a tough year for me and I am so happy that my coach ... and my hard work has paid off. I would like to thank all the people in India who were praying for me to qualify. Your wishes have paid off." The daughter of weavers from Odisha, Chand was dropped from India's contingent for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Incheon after her naturally-occurring testosterone levels were found to be in breach of IAAF's guidelines. She was advised to have surgery and take medication, but instead decided to challenge the guidelines at CAS, who asked the IAAF to present scientific evidence proving enhanced testosterone levels improved performance in hyperandrogenic athletes. South Africa's former world champion 800m runner Caster Semenya was also subjected to gender testing by the IAAF before being cleared to compete as a woman. The Rio Olympics take place from August 5-21. (Reuters)

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand qualifies for Rio Olympics following ruling on gender testing

The International Olympic Committee eased a ban on Russian athletes competing in the Rio Games as the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Wednesday it was wrestling with a record number of appeals. 
 
The IOC sent out &quot;new guidance&quot; on how to implement sanctions ordered after an investigation found widespread state-backed Russian doping, according to the world sailing federation. 
 
Sailing&#39;s world body said it had cancelled a ban against Russian 470 class contender Pavel Sozykin because of the new instructions. 
 
The IOC had initially said any athlete &quot;implicated&quot; in the state-run doping revealed by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren should be excluded from the Games. 
 
But a new statement sent to the 28 summer Olympics federations on Monday &quot;indicated that an athlete should not be considered as &#39;implicated&#39; if the McLaren list does not refer to a prohibited substance which would have given rise to an anti-doping rules violation,&quot; the sailing federation said. 
 
Sozykin, like many Russian athletes facing bans, was named in connection with the manipulation of samples so positive results could be covered up. 
 
World sailing said it had reinstated Sozykin because the substance he was accused of taking would not have resulted in a ban. 
 
But dozens of would-be Olympians from Russia remained in limbo as CAS sorted through their appeals. 
 
CAS said at least 11 of the 18 appeals launched at a special tribunal in Rio since July 26 involved Russian athletes banned after they were implicated in the McLaren probe. 
 
CAS said in a statement that the tribunal in Rio had set &quot;a new record of cases for one edition of the Olympic Games&quot; before the Rio event starts on Friday. 
 
At the 2012 London Olympics, CAS had 11 cases in all to handle. 
 
CAS on Wednesday rejected a challenge by the Russian weightlifting federation against its suspension by the international weightlifting federation after the McLaren report. 
 
That meant eight Russian lifters were banned from Rio. 
 
An appeal by 17 Russian rowers was also been rejected. 
 
&#39;Something needs to change&#39; 
 
Nine other Russian procedures involved four Russian swimmers, four weightlifters who made individual appeals, three cyclists, three rowers, a wrestler and a canoeist. 
 
An IOC spokesman said that a panel that will confirm the Russian team was still &quot;very close&quot; to finishing the final number. 
 
According to an AFP count, at least 119 athletes from the 387 entered by the Russian Olympic Committee have now been excluded by federations. 
 
The scale of the scandal has rocked the Olympic movement but Olympic great Michael Phelps said that at heart it was nothing new. 
 
&quot;I think I can honestly say, in my career, I don&#39;t know if I&#39;ve ever competed in a clean sport,&quot; said the 18-time Olympic gold medallist as he headed into his fifth Olympics. &quot;It&#39;s upsetting.&quot; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s something that needs to change about all sport, not just swimming,&quot; he said. &quot;We&#39;ve had this problem for how many Olympics now -- it seems almost every time there&#39;s something that comes up. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s sad. It&#39;s really sad that we can&#39;t control it. That somebody who is in charge cannot control this.&quot; 
 
Phelps&#39;s longtime coach Bob Bowman, head coach of the US men&#39;s swimming team in Rio, said the governing bodies of sports had &quot;dropped the ball&quot;. 
 
&quot;The system is broken, and it has to be fixed,&quot; he said. 
 
(AFP)

The IOC has reportedly sent out 'new guidance' on how to implement sanctions against Russian sportspersons

The International Olympic Committee eased a ban on Russian athletes competing in the Rio Games as the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Wednesday it was wrestling with a record number of appeals. The IOC sent out "new guidance" on how to implement sanctions ordered after an investigation found widespread state-backed Russian doping, according to the world sailing federation. Sailing's world body said it had cancelled a ban against Russian 470 class contender Pavel Sozykin because of the new instructions. The IOC had initially said any athlete "implicated" in the state-run doping revealed by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren should be excluded from the Games. But a new statement sent to the 28 summer Olympics federations on Monday "indicated that an athlete should not be considered as 'implicated' if the McLaren list does not refer to a prohibited substance which would have given rise to an anti-doping rules violation," the sailing federation said. Sozykin, like many Russian athletes facing bans, was named in connection with the manipulation of samples so positive results could be covered up. World sailing said it had reinstated Sozykin because the substance he was accused of taking would not have resulted in a ban. But dozens of would-be Olympians from Russia remained in limbo as CAS sorted through their appeals. CAS said at least 11 of the 18 appeals launched at a special tribunal in Rio since July 26 involved Russian athletes banned after they were implicated in the McLaren probe. CAS said in a statement that the tribunal in Rio had set "a new record of cases for one edition of the Olympic Games" before the Rio event starts on Friday. At the 2012 London Olympics, CAS had 11 cases in all to handle. CAS on Wednesday rejected a challenge by the Russian weightlifting federation against its suspension by the international weightlifting federation after the McLaren report. That meant eight Russian lifters were banned from Rio. An appeal by 17 Russian rowers was also been rejected. 'Something needs to change' Nine other Russian procedures involved four Russian swimmers, four weightlifters who made individual appeals, three cyclists, three rowers, a wrestler and a canoeist. An IOC spokesman said that a panel that will confirm the Russian team was still "very close" to finishing the final number. According to an AFP count, at least 119 athletes from the 387 entered by the Russian Olympic Committee have now been excluded by federations. The scale of the scandal has rocked the Olympic movement but Olympic great Michael Phelps said that at heart it was nothing new. "I think I can honestly say, in my career, I don't know if I've ever competed in a clean sport," said the 18-time Olympic gold medallist as he headed into his fifth Olympics. "It's upsetting." "It's something that needs to change about all sport, not just swimming," he said. "We've had this problem for how many Olympics now -- it seems almost every time there's something that comes up. "It's sad. It's really sad that we can't control it. That somebody who is in charge cannot control this." Phelps's longtime coach Bob Bowman, head coach of the US men's swimming team in Rio, said the governing bodies of sports had "dropped the ball". "The system is broken, and it has to be fixed," he said. (AFP)

IOC eases ban on Russian athletes as CAS wrestles with record number of appeals

Russia insisted today that it expects to avoid a blanket ban from the IOC on its competitors at the Rio Olympics despite its track and field squad losing an appeal over a suspension for state-sponsored doping. 
 
&quot;All sportsmen who have not been convicted or are not under suspicion of doping should have the right to compete. That is the decision we are counting on,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 
 
The International Olympic Committee&#39;s executive board are to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss banning Russia from the Rio Games starting on August 5. 
 
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday ruled against Russia&#39;s athletes in a decision seen as a key indicator as the IOC debates whether to kick out the whole Russian team. 
 
The IOC is facing international pressure to act tough on Russia and ban the entire team over bombshell revelations of a state-run doping system that has seen the country cheat its way to victory. 
 
Fourteen national anti-doping agencies including the United States, Canada and Germany sent a joint letter to IOC President Thomas Bach on Thursday urging him to ban Russia from Rio. 
 
Officials in Moscow have slammed the decision by CAS to reject its appeal against a ban from the world athletics body IAAF, calling it part of a broader political campaign by the West against Russia. 
 
The suspension of the track and field team already means that star athletes like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and hurdler Sergey Shubenkov will not be in Rio. 
 
Isinbayeva who has threatened to call time on her career over the ban slammed the CAS ruling as a &quot;funeral for athletics.&quot; 
 
Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko who has clung on despite the scandal said Moscow now hopes the IOC will defer to individual international sporting federations to decide whether other Russian squads can compete. 
 
Cold War 
 
The CAS ruling has been the focus of Olympic attention since an independent WADA report this week said Russia ran a &quot;state-dictated failsafe system&quot; of drug cheating in 30 sports at the 2014 Sochi Games and other major events. 
 
But Russia has found support from some international sports bodies, with the International Judo Federation (IJF) insisting all clean athletes should be allowed to take part in Rio. 
 
&quot;We hope that by allowing participation of Russian athletes in Rio 2016, we will send out a positive message to all the young people who deserve to be given examples of friendship instead of examples of Cold War,&quot; said IJF president Marius Vizer. 
 
Individual Russian federations said they were now looking nervously ahead for the IOC to make its next move. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re all in suspense waiting for the IOC decision,&quot; wrestling federation president Mikhail Mamiashvili told AFP. 
 
&quot;I hope that the common sense and personal responsibility of those who will take the decision will prevail.&quot; 
 
The IAAF banned all of the Russian track and field team over allegations of state-sponsored doping but said athletes who prove they were not tainted by their country&#39;s corrupt system could be cleared. 
 
The IAAF has only gave permission for one Russian team member to compete as a neutral is US-based long jumper Darya Klishina to compete in Rio. 
 
The IOC has appeared to back the principle that international sporting federations could clear individual athletes in case of a blanket ban but with just two weeks to go until Rio time is slipping away. 
 
The Russian press had widely predicted that CAS would decide against Moscow and reaction was a mixture of soul-searching and criticism over systemic failings. 
 
&quot;They accused us of setting up a system in the country based on doping and we didn&#39;t react at all to these accusations,&quot; wrote daily Sovietsky Sport. &quot;That&#39;s why they&#39;re banning us.&quot; 
 
&quot;Alas, everything that is happening with our sports is the fruit of our own errors,&quot; a column in usually pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda said, citing years of mismanagement. 
 
&quot;It is far from certain that even the current apocalyptic storm will force us to change our sport. Maybe only if the IOC buries our team on Sunday.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

International Olympic Committee's executive board are to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss banning Russia from the Rio Games

Russia insisted today that it expects to avoid a blanket ban from the IOC on its competitors at the Rio Olympics despite its track and field squad losing an appeal over a suspension for state-sponsored doping. "All sportsmen who have not been convicted or are not under suspicion of doping should have the right to compete. That is the decision we are counting on," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The International Olympic Committee's executive board are to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss banning Russia from the Rio Games starting on August 5. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday ruled against Russia's athletes in a decision seen as a key indicator as the IOC debates whether to kick out the whole Russian team. The IOC is facing international pressure to act tough on Russia and ban the entire team over bombshell revelations of a state-run doping system that has seen the country cheat its way to victory. Fourteen national anti-doping agencies including the United States, Canada and Germany sent a joint letter to IOC President Thomas Bach on Thursday urging him to ban Russia from Rio. Officials in Moscow have slammed the decision by CAS to reject its appeal against a ban from the world athletics body IAAF, calling it part of a broader political campaign by the West against Russia. The suspension of the track and field team already means that star athletes like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and hurdler Sergey Shubenkov will not be in Rio. Isinbayeva who has threatened to call time on her career over the ban slammed the CAS ruling as a "funeral for athletics." Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko who has clung on despite the scandal said Moscow now hopes the IOC will defer to individual international sporting federations to decide whether other Russian squads can compete. Cold War The CAS ruling has been the focus of Olympic attention since an independent WADA report this week said Russia ran a "state-dictated failsafe system" of drug cheating in 30 sports at the 2014 Sochi Games and other major events. But Russia has found support from some international sports bodies, with the International Judo Federation (IJF) insisting all clean athletes should be allowed to take part in Rio. "We hope that by allowing participation of Russian athletes in Rio 2016, we will send out a positive message to all the young people who deserve to be given examples of friendship instead of examples of Cold War," said IJF president Marius Vizer. Individual Russian federations said they were now looking nervously ahead for the IOC to make its next move. "We're all in suspense waiting for the IOC decision," wrestling federation president Mikhail Mamiashvili told AFP. "I hope that the common sense and personal responsibility of those who will take the decision will prevail." The IAAF banned all of the Russian track and field team over allegations of state-sponsored doping but said athletes who prove they were not tainted by their country's corrupt system could be cleared. The IAAF has only gave permission for one Russian team member to compete as a neutral is US-based long jumper Darya Klishina to compete in Rio. The IOC has appeared to back the principle that international sporting federations could clear individual athletes in case of a blanket ban but with just two weeks to go until Rio time is slipping away. The Russian press had widely predicted that CAS would decide against Moscow and reaction was a mixture of soul-searching and criticism over systemic failings. "They accused us of setting up a system in the country based on doping and we didn't react at all to these accusations," wrote daily Sovietsky Sport. "That's why they're banning us." "Alas, everything that is happening with our sports is the fruit of our own errors," a column in usually pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda said, citing years of mismanagement. "It is far from certain that even the current apocalyptic storm will force us to change our sport. Maybe only if the IOC buries our team on Sunday." (AFP)

Russia braces for IOC ruling after CAS bans athletics squad

Sport&#39;s highest tribunal the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday rejected Russia&#39;s appeal against the exclusion of its track and field athletes from the Olympic Games starting in Rio in 15 days&#39; time. The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport said in its verdict: &quot;CAS rejects the claims/appeal of the Russian Olympic Committee and 68 Russian athletes.&quot; 
 
The appeal to CAS was launched by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 68 Russian athletes who said they were being punished despite not having failed drugs tests, and that they should be eligible to compete in Rio. 
 
The verdict drew swift condemnation from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: &quot;I certainly regret such a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which refers to absolutely all of our athletes.&quot; Russia had argued the blanket ban was unfair to individual athletes with no record of doping. &quot;The principle of collective responsibility is hardly acceptable,&quot; Peskov said. Double Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva described the CAS decision as &quot;the funeral of athletics&quot;. 
 
IAAF welcomes CAS verdict&nbsp; 
 
Athletics&#39; governing body the IAAF has welcomed sports court CAS&#39;s rejection of Russia&#39;s doping appeal, declaring Thursday&#39;s ruling &quot;has created a level playing field for athletes&quot;. &quot;The CAS award upholds the rights of the IAAF to use its rules for the protection of the sport, to protect clean athletes and support the credibility and integrity of competition,&quot; the IAAF statement read. 
 
IAAF president Sebastian Coe cautioned that while he welcomed the verdict, &quot;this is not a day for triumphant statements. I didn&rsquo;t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing. It is our federation&rsquo;s instinctive desire to include, not exclude.&quot; 
 
IOC mulls banning Russia entirely from the Rio Games 
 
The decision increases the possibility that the International Olympic Committee will now ban Russia from all sports in Rio, a grave blow to a nation that prides itself on its status as a sporting superpower. The IOC is expected to reach a final decision on Sunday and has said it will take the CAS ruling into account. 
 
Russian track and field athletes were banned from international competition in November after an independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found rampant state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics. 
 
The ban was imposed by the IAAF, the global governing body for athletics, which reconfirmed it last month, saying there were still considerable problems with anti-doping in Russia. 
 
On Monday, another WADA report revealed evidence of systematic and widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian competitors before and at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. 
 
(Reuters, AFP) 
&nbsp;

Athletics' governing body the IAAF welcomes CAS ruling, says Russia doping ruling creates 'level playing field'

Sport's highest tribunal the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday rejected Russia's appeal against the exclusion of its track and field athletes from the Olympic Games starting in Rio in 15 days' time. The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport said in its verdict: "CAS rejects the claims/appeal of the Russian Olympic Committee and 68 Russian athletes." The appeal to CAS was launched by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 68 Russian athletes who said they were being punished despite not having failed drugs tests, and that they should be eligible to compete in Rio. The verdict drew swift condemnation from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "I certainly regret such a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which refers to absolutely all of our athletes." Russia had argued the blanket ban was unfair to individual athletes with no record of doping. "The principle of collective responsibility is hardly acceptable," Peskov said. Double Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva described the CAS decision as "the funeral of athletics". IAAF welcomes CAS verdict Athletics' governing body the IAAF has welcomed sports court CAS's rejection of Russia's doping appeal, declaring Thursday's ruling "has created a level playing field for athletes". "The CAS award upholds the rights of the IAAF to use its rules for the protection of the sport, to protect clean athletes and support the credibility and integrity of competition," the IAAF statement read. IAAF president Sebastian Coe cautioned that while he welcomed the verdict, "this is not a day for triumphant statements. I didn’t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing. It is our federation’s instinctive desire to include, not exclude." IOC mulls banning Russia entirely from the Rio Games The decision increases the possibility that the International Olympic Committee will now ban Russia from all sports in Rio, a grave blow to a nation that prides itself on its status as a sporting superpower. The IOC is expected to reach a final decision on Sunday and has said it will take the CAS ruling into account. Russian track and field athletes were banned from international competition in November after an independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found rampant state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics. The ban was imposed by the IAAF, the global governing body for athletics, which reconfirmed it last month, saying there were still considerable problems with anti-doping in Russia. On Monday, another WADA report revealed evidence of systematic and widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian competitors before and at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. (Reuters, AFP)

CAS bars Russian field athletes from Rio Olympics, draws ire from Moscow

Russia&#39;s Olympic Committee pressed on Wednesday with its preparations for the Rio Olympic Games despite the threat of a ban for state-run doping hanging over the country.&nbsp; 
 
At a meeting in Moscow the executive board approved a 387-strong team -- including star names like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, hurdler Sergei Shubenkov and tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova -- to compete at this summer&#39;s games starting on August 5. 
 
&quot;We today confirmed the composition of our team including the track and field athletes. The court decision will likely be tomorrow and tomorrow we will find out,&quot; committee chief Alexander Zhukov said.&nbsp; 
 
Zhukov insisted that Russian sportsmen were still &quot;capable of competing for medals&quot; at the event in Rio and said they were training in Russia, Portugal and Brazil.&nbsp; 
 
The team`s line-up includes the 68 track and field athletes, whose fate hinges on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which is set to rule on Thursday on whether the IAAF had grounds to impose a blanket ban on Russia`s athletics federation. 
 
An independent WADA commission led by Canadian investigator Richard McLaren detailed an elaborate cheating scheme run by Russia`s sports ministry with help from the FSB state intelligence agency. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would study &quot;legal options&quot; before deciding whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games following emergency talks on Tuesday. 
 
A spokesman for the committee said Wednesday it would decide &quot;within seven days&quot; on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant state-run doping. 
 
The IOC ordered a disciplinary commission to look into what McLaren`s commission called a &quot;state-dictated failsafe system&quot; of drug cheating that included Russia`s secret service. 
 
The IOC -- which faces a race against the clock to reach a final decision on Russians in Rio -- said it &quot;will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice&quot;. 
 
Moscow has blasted what its sees as political interference in sports over the doping scandal and insists individual athletes should be punished but not the entire team.&nbsp; 
 
A Russian diplomatic source said Wednesday that the current scandal &quot;came against the backdrop of Washington calling for two years for Russia to be isolated, politically, economically and not in sports.&quot; 
 
&quot;The aim of this is to pressure Russia in any way, she said.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

387 member strong line-up includes star names like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and hurdler Sergei Shubenkov

Russia's Olympic Committee pressed on Wednesday with its preparations for the Rio Olympic Games despite the threat of a ban for state-run doping hanging over the country. At a meeting in Moscow the executive board approved a 387-strong team -- including star names like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, hurdler Sergei Shubenkov and tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova -- to compete at this summer's games starting on August 5. "We today confirmed the composition of our team including the track and field athletes. The court decision will likely be tomorrow and tomorrow we will find out," committee chief Alexander Zhukov said. Zhukov insisted that Russian sportsmen were still "capable of competing for medals" at the event in Rio and said they were training in Russia, Portugal and Brazil. The team`s line-up includes the 68 track and field athletes, whose fate hinges on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which is set to rule on Thursday on whether the IAAF had grounds to impose a blanket ban on Russia`s athletics federation. An independent WADA commission led by Canadian investigator Richard McLaren detailed an elaborate cheating scheme run by Russia`s sports ministry with help from the FSB state intelligence agency. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would study "legal options" before deciding whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games following emergency talks on Tuesday. A spokesman for the committee said Wednesday it would decide "within seven days" on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant state-run doping. The IOC ordered a disciplinary commission to look into what McLaren`s commission called a "state-dictated failsafe system" of drug cheating that included Russia`s secret service. The IOC -- which faces a race against the clock to reach a final decision on Russians in Rio -- said it "will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice". Moscow has blasted what its sees as political interference in sports over the doping scandal and insists individual athletes should be punished but not the entire team. A Russian diplomatic source said Wednesday that the current scandal "came against the backdrop of Washington calling for two years for Russia to be isolated, politically, economically and not in sports." "The aim of this is to pressure Russia in any way, she said. (AFP)

Russia announces Olympic squad despite ban threat

A Court of Arbitration for Sport decision on the two-year doping ban for Maria Sharapova has been put back two months to September, the court said today, ruling the tennis superstar out of the Rio Olympics. 
 
The 29-year-old Russian, one of the biggest names in tennis, tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January`s Australian Open, in a severe blow to her reputation. 
 
&quot;Maria Sharapova and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have agreed to defer the CAS decision until September 2016,&quot; said a CAS statement. 
 
&quot;Due to the parties requiring additional time to complete and respond to their respective evidentiary submissions, and several scheduling conflicts, the parties have agreed not to expedite the appeal. A decision is expected to be issued by September 19, 2016.&quot; 
 
The original ruling was expected by July 18, with Sharapova hoping that a successful appeal would have allowed her to spearhead the Russian tennis team in Rio. 
 
Russia&#39;s participation at the Games, which begin on August 5, is already under fierce scrutiny after its track and field team was banned for separate state-sponsored doping. 
 
Sharapova&#39;s ban was backdated to January 26 this year, when she tested positive for the prohibited substance. 
 
Meldonium was added to the world anti-doping WADA list on January 1. Sharapova said she had been taking it for 10 years to help treat illnesses, a heart issue and a magnesium deficiency. 
 
Sharapova has previously blasted the ban as &quot;unfairly harsh&quot;. 
 
The CAS statement added: &quot;In her appeal to the CAS, Ms Sharapova seeks the annulment of the (ITF) tribunal`s decision to sanction her with a two-year period of ineligibility further to an anti-doping rule violation.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Ms Sharapova submits that the period of ineligibility should be eliminated, or in the alternative, reduced. The final decision will be announced and published by CAS when it is available.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Maria Sharapova, one of the biggest names in tennis, tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January's Australian Open

A Court of Arbitration for Sport decision on the two-year doping ban for Maria Sharapova has been put back two months to September, the court said today, ruling the tennis superstar out of the Rio Olympics. The 29-year-old Russian, one of the biggest names in tennis, tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January`s Australian Open, in a severe blow to her reputation. "Maria Sharapova and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have agreed to defer the CAS decision until September 2016," said a CAS statement. "Due to the parties requiring additional time to complete and respond to their respective evidentiary submissions, and several scheduling conflicts, the parties have agreed not to expedite the appeal. A decision is expected to be issued by September 19, 2016." The original ruling was expected by July 18, with Sharapova hoping that a successful appeal would have allowed her to spearhead the Russian tennis team in Rio. Russia's participation at the Games, which begin on August 5, is already under fierce scrutiny after its track and field team was banned for separate state-sponsored doping. Sharapova's ban was backdated to January 26 this year, when she tested positive for the prohibited substance. Meldonium was added to the world anti-doping WADA list on January 1. Sharapova said she had been taking it for 10 years to help treat illnesses, a heart issue and a magnesium deficiency. Sharapova has previously blasted the ban as "unfairly harsh". The CAS statement added: "In her appeal to the CAS, Ms Sharapova seeks the annulment of the (ITF) tribunal`s decision to sanction her with a two-year period of ineligibility further to an anti-doping rule violation. "Ms Sharapova submits that the period of ineligibility should be eliminated, or in the alternative, reduced. The final decision will be announced and published by CAS when it is available." (AFP)

Sharapova out of Rio as CAS delays doping decision

Craig Reedie, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, indicated today that he would be prepared to back a complete ban for the entire Russia team from August&#39;s Olympic Games in Rio. 
 
The founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, told Britain&#39;s Sunday Times newspaper that such a ban was &quot;not impossible&quot;. 
 
Friday saw the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) uphold an international ban on Russia&#39;s track and field competitors first imposed in November after a WADA team led by veteran Canadian sports administrator Pound revealed state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics.&nbsp; 
 
The Russia team is now ruled out of all events in athletics in Rio, although Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August 5-21 event in Brazil. 
 
The IAAF&#39;s decision was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. 
 
But there are fears that the scale of Russia&#39;s breaking of doping rules extend beyond just track and field. 
 
In May, WADA set up a new investigation under Professor Richard McLaren, a Canadian law professor and longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. 
 
Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Russian lab now living in Los Angeles, also gave an interview to the New York Times last month in which he said he switched tainted urine samples for clean ones at the doping lab used for the Sochi Games, with help from people he believed to be officers of the Russian security services. 
 
McLaren, who is due to deliver his full report by July 15, said in a preliminary statement on Friday he had evidence that Russia&#39;s Ministry of Sport was involved in instructing a Moscow laboratory to &quot;not report positive sample results over the period before, during and after&quot; the 2013 World Athletics Championships. 
 
&quot;In the coming weeks, we will learn the outcome of our independent McLaren investigation,&quot; Reedie, speaking at the WADA symposium at London`s Lord&#39;s Cricket Ground, said Monday. 
 
&quot;If his report indicates transgressions of any kind, then there will be a precedent-setting opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to cleaning up sport,&quot; added the veteran British sports administrator, who reiterated WADA&#39;s support for the IAAF ban on Russia. 
 
&quot;The world will be watching.&quot; 
 
Reedie said the fact anti-doping laboratories in Beijing, Bloemfontein, Lisbon, Madrid and Moscow had all had their WADA accreditation suspended was proof that the organisation had taken &quot;decisive action&quot; by hearing the &quot;strength of the athlete&#39;s voice&quot; in insisting labs maintain the &quot;highest standards&quot;. 
 
This, said Reedie, was all part of &quot;levelling the playing field for each and every athlete competing in Rio&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile Reedie repeated his calls for increased WADA funding from national governments and also suggested that, for the first time, broadcasters and media rights-holders might want to contribute to the budget. 
 
Reedie said WADA was &quot;punching above its weight&quot; on a budget of less than $30 million a year, which he noted was less than the annual income of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, recently banned for a doping violation. 
 
Reedie added that 0.5 per cent of the worldwide sports television rights market would produce a WADA budget of $175 million and that it was in the rights-holders&#39; interest to promote clean sport. 
 
Russian President Vladmir Putin&nbsp;has labelled the IAAF&#39;s ban on his country&#39;s athletes as &quot;unjust and unfair&quot;. 
 
But IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic 1500 metres gold and 800m silver for Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Games, wrote in Britain&#39;s Sunday Telegraph: &quot;We have not prevented clean athletes from Russia from competing, rather the Russian system has cataclysmically failed their clean athletes.&quot; 
(AFP)

Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August event in Brazil

Craig Reedie, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, indicated today that he would be prepared to back a complete ban for the entire Russia team from August's Olympic Games in Rio. The founding president of WADA, Dick Pound, told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper that such a ban was "not impossible". Friday saw the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) uphold an international ban on Russia's track and field competitors first imposed in November after a WADA team led by veteran Canadian sports administrator Pound revealed state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in Russian athletics. The Russia team is now ruled out of all events in athletics in Rio, although Russian athletes training outside the country can apply to compete as neutrals at the August 5-21 event in Brazil. The IAAF's decision was endorsed by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. But there are fears that the scale of Russia's breaking of doping rules extend beyond just track and field. In May, WADA set up a new investigation under Professor Richard McLaren, a Canadian law professor and longstanding member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Russian lab now living in Los Angeles, also gave an interview to the New York Times last month in which he said he switched tainted urine samples for clean ones at the doping lab used for the Sochi Games, with help from people he believed to be officers of the Russian security services. McLaren, who is due to deliver his full report by July 15, said in a preliminary statement on Friday he had evidence that Russia's Ministry of Sport was involved in instructing a Moscow laboratory to "not report positive sample results over the period before, during and after" the 2013 World Athletics Championships. "In the coming weeks, we will learn the outcome of our independent McLaren investigation," Reedie, speaking at the WADA symposium at London`s Lord's Cricket Ground, said Monday. "If his report indicates transgressions of any kind, then there will be a precedent-setting opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to cleaning up sport," added the veteran British sports administrator, who reiterated WADA's support for the IAAF ban on Russia. "The world will be watching." Reedie said the fact anti-doping laboratories in Beijing, Bloemfontein, Lisbon, Madrid and Moscow had all had their WADA accreditation suspended was proof that the organisation had taken "decisive action" by hearing the "strength of the athlete's voice" in insisting labs maintain the "highest standards". This, said Reedie, was all part of "levelling the playing field for each and every athlete competing in Rio". Meanwhile Reedie repeated his calls for increased WADA funding from national governments and also suggested that, for the first time, broadcasters and media rights-holders might want to contribute to the budget. Reedie said WADA was "punching above its weight" on a budget of less than $30 million a year, which he noted was less than the annual income of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, recently banned for a doping violation. Reedie added that 0.5 per cent of the worldwide sports television rights market would produce a WADA budget of $175 million and that it was in the rights-holders' interest to promote clean sport. Russian President Vladmir Putin has labelled the IAAF's ban on his country's athletes as "unjust and unfair". But IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic 1500 metres gold and 800m silver for Great Britain at the 1980 Moscow Games, wrote in Britain's Sunday Telegraph: "We have not prevented clean athletes from Russia from competing, rather the Russian system has cataclysmically failed their clean athletes." (AFP)

World Anti-Doping Agency prepared to ban entire Russian team from Rio Olympics

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