Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, one of the country&#39;s strongest medal hope, kicked off her campaign at the Rio Olympics on a winning note as she brushed aside Brazil&#39;s Lohaynny Vicente in straight games in the opening match of the women&#39;s singles event on Wednesday. 
 
Saina, the bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, produced an imperious form throughout the match to register an emphatic 21-17, 21-17 win over her Brazilian compatriot in the one-sided contest that lasted for 39 minutes at Riocentro- Pavilion. 
 
The 26-year-old will play her next Group G match against Ukraine&#39;s&nbsp;Ulitina Maria. 
 
Earlier today, PV Sindhu, the other shuttler in fray, also made a great start to her badminton campaign by thrashing Hungary&#39;s Laura Sarosi 21-8, 21-9 in her opening round. 
 
Meanwhile, the Indian women&#39;s double pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had lost 15-21, 10-21 to top-ranked Japanese pair of Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsumoto in a match which lasted 36 minutes in their Group A opener. 
 
In the men&#39;s doubles competition, Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy also suffered a 18-21, 13-21 defeat at the hands of World Number 2 Indonesian pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in their first match. 
 
(ANI) 
&nbsp;

Saina produced an imperious form throughout the match to register an emphatic 21-17, 21-17 win over Brazil's Lohaynny Vicente

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, one of the country's strongest medal hope, kicked off her campaign at the Rio Olympics on a winning note as she brushed aside Brazil's Lohaynny Vicente in straight games in the opening match of the women's singles event on Wednesday. Saina, the bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, produced an imperious form throughout the match to register an emphatic 21-17, 21-17 win over her Brazilian compatriot in the one-sided contest that lasted for 39 minutes at Riocentro- Pavilion. The 26-year-old will play her next Group G match against Ukraine's Ulitina Maria. Earlier today, PV Sindhu, the other shuttler in fray, also made a great start to her badminton campaign by thrashing Hungary's Laura Sarosi 21-8, 21-9 in her opening round. Meanwhile, the Indian women's double pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had lost 15-21, 10-21 to top-ranked Japanese pair of Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsumoto in a match which lasted 36 minutes in their Group A opener. In the men's doubles competition, Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy also suffered a 18-21, 13-21 defeat at the hands of World Number 2 Indonesian pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in their first match. (ANI)

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal gets off to winning start in Rio Olympics

On debut day for Olympic boxing, fighters said they were happy to be competing at the first Games since 1980 without protective headgear, welcoming better peripheral vision even if it means more cuts and scrapes. 
 
After decades of debate, and some studies suggesting headgear did not make the sport safer, boxing governing body AIBA eliminated the equipment at events since 2013, including two world championships and one Commonwealth Games. 
 
With a global audience at the Olympics, boxers said they were especially pleased to go - even if no headgear means more scratches and, sometimes, cuts. 
 
&quot;You feel unimpeded,&quot; said Juan Nogueira, a Brazilian heavyweight from S?o Paulo, the biggest city of the host country, whose fans erupted in cheers as he defeated Australian Jason Eric Whateley on Saturday. 
 
&quot;He is a really good opponent, a technical fighter, and I was happy to be able to see more,&quot; he added, echoing comments by other fighters that headgear limits a boxer&#39;s ability to see to the side. 
 
The prospect of cuts, and consequent stopping of matches because of safety concerns about blood, continues to be a sore subject. At the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Australian Daniel Lewis complained that he lost a medal because he was deemed unfit to compete because of a cut. 
 
Still, on Saturday most boxers said they were willing to take the risk. 
 
&quot;Yeah, you can feel the sting a little more, but it&#39;s worth it,&quot; said Misael Uziel Rodriguez, a Mexican middleweight who squares off against Iraq&#39;s Abdulridha Waheed on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

Boxing governing body AIBA removed headgears at events since 2013, including two world championships and one Commonwealth Games

On debut day for Olympic boxing, fighters said they were happy to be competing at the first Games since 1980 without protective headgear, welcoming better peripheral vision even if it means more cuts and scrapes. After decades of debate, and some studies suggesting headgear did not make the sport safer, boxing governing body AIBA eliminated the equipment at events since 2013, including two world championships and one Commonwealth Games. With a global audience at the Olympics, boxers said they were especially pleased to go - even if no headgear means more scratches and, sometimes, cuts. "You feel unimpeded," said Juan Nogueira, a Brazilian heavyweight from S?o Paulo, the biggest city of the host country, whose fans erupted in cheers as he defeated Australian Jason Eric Whateley on Saturday. "He is a really good opponent, a technical fighter, and I was happy to be able to see more," he added, echoing comments by other fighters that headgear limits a boxer's ability to see to the side. The prospect of cuts, and consequent stopping of matches because of safety concerns about blood, continues to be a sore subject. At the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Australian Daniel Lewis complained that he lost a medal because he was deemed unfit to compete because of a cut. Still, on Saturday most boxers said they were willing to take the risk. "Yeah, you can feel the sting a little more, but it's worth it," said Misael Uziel Rodriguez, a Mexican middleweight who squares off against Iraq's Abdulridha Waheed on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Boxers scuffed up but happy sans headgear at Rio

Kenya on Thursday was removed from the the World Anti-Doping Agency&#39;s (WADA) list of nations deemed &#39;non-compliant&#39; in their efforts to tackle doping after the Kenyan parliament introduced new legislation to punish drug cheats. 
 
Kenya&#39;s reputation has been tarnished by more than 40 doping cases in the last four years and at one point the East African nation&#39;s participation at the Rio Olympics, which start on Friday, was deemed to be in jeopardy. 
 
WADA in May put Kenya on its non-compliant list as an anti-doping law passed by the Kenyan parliament was not in line with WADA&#39;s own code. The government later amended the bill. 
 
&quot;Kenya has drafted and adopted anti-doping legislation now deemed to be in line with the Code,&quot; WADA said in a statement. 
 
It added that it had &quot;removed the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) from the list of signatories previously deemed non-compliant&quot;. 
 
Among the Kenyan athletes who failed drug tests are former Boston City Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, and twice world cross-country champion Emily Chebet. 
 
(Reuters)

Kenya's reputation has been tarnished by more than 40 doping cases in last four years. It's Rio Olympics participation was also in jeopardy

Kenya on Thursday was removed from the the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of nations deemed 'non-compliant' in their efforts to tackle doping after the Kenyan parliament introduced new legislation to punish drug cheats. Kenya's reputation has been tarnished by more than 40 doping cases in the last four years and at one point the East African nation's participation at the Rio Olympics, which start on Friday, was deemed to be in jeopardy. WADA in May put Kenya on its non-compliant list as an anti-doping law passed by the Kenyan parliament was not in line with WADA's own code. The government later amended the bill. "Kenya has drafted and adopted anti-doping legislation now deemed to be in line with the Code," WADA said in a statement. It added that it had "removed the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) from the list of signatories previously deemed non-compliant". Among the Kenyan athletes who failed drug tests are former Boston City Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, and twice world cross-country champion Emily Chebet. (Reuters)

Rio 2016: WADA removes Kenya from list of 'non-compliant' nations

Brazil&#39;s athletes were not subject to dope tests for almost a month before the Rio Olympics, the country&#39;s sports ministry has said while refuting allegations it was a political decision to ensure the games were not plunged further into crisis. 
 
Brazil&#39;s sports ministry confirmed no tests were carried out between July 1 and July 24 due to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspension on a drug testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, The Times reported today. 
 
WADA said it was &quot;concerned&quot; and has sent a letter to Brazil&#39;s sports minister asking why the tests had been stopped. 
 
&quot;We sent a letter to the minister of sport and the executive director of the Brazilian national anti-doping agency, pressing our concerns and demanding to know why testing had been stopped in Brazil,&quot; WADA deputy director Rob Koehler told the newspaper. 
 
&quot;The response was not satisfactory... the explanation that it had come about due to the changing of the guard in the ministry and the agency was not acceptable to us. 
 
&quot;We informed the pre-Games task force and we told them to ramp up increased tests. It was unacceptable that it stopped. That was not a good move... the fact no testing was happening was a concern.&quot; 
 
South America&#39;s first Olympics have been mired in a drugs scandal with Russia&#39;s track-and-field athletes and weightlifters barred from the Rio Games over doping offences. 
 
The European country narrowly avoided a complete ban over allegations its government and FSB security service systematically covered up widespread cheating. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose not to impose a blanket ban on all Russian athletes but directed sports federations to allow them to compete if they met a set of criteria, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events. 
 
Faced pressure from ministry, alleges Horta&nbsp; 
 
Luis Horta, the former head of Portugal&#39;s anti-doping agency who was given a role as an adviser to Brazil, alleged he faced pressure from the country&#39;s sports ministry and Olympic committee to reduce testing. 
 
A statement from Brazil&#39;s sports ministry refuted the allegations, while adding that three overseas laboratories were approached but were unable to help with the testing of samples. 
 
&quot;The Ministry of Sport and the Brazilian Doping Control Authority strongly refute the accusations made by Mr Horta,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;With the suspension imposed by WADA to the laboratory on June 22, the tests planned for the period between 1 and 24 July were compromised (the suspension was only lifted on July 20), as analyses could not be submitted. 
 
&quot;Therefore, the planned tests ended up not being done in that period.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

'Brazil's sports ministry confirmed no tests were carried out between July 1 and July 24 due to a WADA suspension on drug testing lab'

Brazil's athletes were not subject to dope tests for almost a month before the Rio Olympics, the country's sports ministry has said while refuting allegations it was a political decision to ensure the games were not plunged further into crisis. Brazil's sports ministry confirmed no tests were carried out between July 1 and July 24 due to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspension on a drug testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, The Times reported today. WADA said it was "concerned" and has sent a letter to Brazil's sports minister asking why the tests had been stopped. "We sent a letter to the minister of sport and the executive director of the Brazilian national anti-doping agency, pressing our concerns and demanding to know why testing had been stopped in Brazil," WADA deputy director Rob Koehler told the newspaper. "The response was not satisfactory... the explanation that it had come about due to the changing of the guard in the ministry and the agency was not acceptable to us. "We informed the pre-Games task force and we told them to ramp up increased tests. It was unacceptable that it stopped. That was not a good move... the fact no testing was happening was a concern." South America's first Olympics have been mired in a drugs scandal with Russia's track-and-field athletes and weightlifters barred from the Rio Games over doping offences. The European country narrowly avoided a complete ban over allegations its government and FSB security service systematically covered up widespread cheating. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose not to impose a blanket ban on all Russian athletes but directed sports federations to allow them to compete if they met a set of criteria, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events. Faced pressure from ministry, alleges Horta Luis Horta, the former head of Portugal's anti-doping agency who was given a role as an adviser to Brazil, alleged he faced pressure from the country's sports ministry and Olympic committee to reduce testing. A statement from Brazil's sports ministry refuted the allegations, while adding that three overseas laboratories were approached but were unable to help with the testing of samples. "The Ministry of Sport and the Brazilian Doping Control Authority strongly refute the accusations made by Mr Horta," it said. "With the suspension imposed by WADA to the laboratory on June 22, the tests planned for the period between 1 and 24 July were compromised (the suspension was only lifted on July 20), as analyses could not be submitted. "Therefore, the planned tests ended up not being done in that period." (Reuters)

WADA questions why athletes were not dope-tested ahead of Rio 2016

Rio Paralympics 2016, a major international multi-sporting event for people with disabilities, kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on September 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.&nbsp; 
 
The ceremony played true to its event&#39;s meaning as American Aaron &quot;Wheelz&quot; Fotheringham, a wheelchair athlete, jumped from a massive ramp from the Maracana stands and performed a back flip through a giant ring. Rio organisers said that over 1.5 million tickets were sold for the event.&nbsp; 
 
Here are the seven things that you need to know about the popular sporting event. 
 
What&#39;s in the name?&nbsp; 
 
The &#39;para&#39; in Paralympics is a Greek prefix meaning &#39;alongside&#39; or &#39;parallel to&#39;. Thus, the term Paralympics means &#39;parallel to Olympics&#39;. 
 
While most of you would be aware of the significance of the Olympics logo, the Paralympics logo is &nbsp;less familiar. The symbol consists of three agitos (red, blue and green) encircling a single point. These three colours were chosen because they are most widely represented in national flags across the world. 
 
World in a logo 
 
The new Paralympic Symbol (logo) was launched in 2003. It is a symbol in motion, with three Agitos (from the Latin meaning &#39;I move&#39;) encircling a centre point; emphasizing the role that the IPC has of bringing athletes from all corners of the world together and enabling them to compete. 
 
 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/2000px-ipc_logo_(2004).svg-20160907114638.png" />
<div class="media-description">
Logo of the Paralympic games
</div>
The beginning&nbsp; 
 
The games began in 1948, but were called the Stoke Mandeville Games at that time. They became the Paralympics only in 1960 and were held in Rome. The first Winter Paralympics took place in 1967. 
 
World&#39;s second largest multi-sport event 
 
The Paralympics are the second largest multi-sport event in the world, second to the Olympics. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/gettyimages-82773060%20(1)-20160908073805.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>
Exclusive Paralympics sports 
 
Goalball (for the blind and visually-impaired) and Boccia are two sports that are unique to the Paralympics. 
 
Participation 
 
Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will compete in 528 events in 22 different sports. The Paralympics ceremony will see a participation from around 500 professional staff and 2,000 volunteers. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/gettyimages-1924534%20(1)-20160908073643.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Andrew Hodge waves after winning gold medal in the 100 m event during the 1992 Paralympics.
</div>
 
Key players from South Asia&nbsp; 
 
The key players from South Asia include Afghanistan&#39;s Mohammad Naiem Durani, India&#39;s Devendra Jhajaria and Amit Kumar Saroha, Nepal&#39;s Bikram Rana and Laxmi Kunwar, Sri Lanka&#39;s Anil Prasanna and Pakistan&#39;s Haider Ali. 
 
2016 Rio Paralympic Games are to be held from September 7 to September 18 at Rio&rsquo;s iconic Maracana Stadium. 
 
Contributions by Ashna Mishra 
 
(WION Edge)
<div class="media-description">
&nbsp;
</div>

The international multi-sporting event kicked off on Wednesday (September 7) with a spectacular opening ceremony

Rio Paralympics 2016, a major international multi-sporting event for people with disabilities, kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on September 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The ceremony played true to its event's meaning as American Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, a wheelchair athlete, jumped from a massive ramp from the Maracana stands and performed a back flip through a giant ring. Rio organisers said that over 1.5 million tickets were sold for the event. Here are the seven things that you need to know about the popular sporting event. What's in the name? The 'para' in Paralympics is a Greek prefix meaning 'alongside' or 'parallel to'. Thus, the term Paralympics means 'parallel to Olympics'. While most of you would be aware of the significance of the Olympics logo, the Paralympics logo is less familiar. The symbol consists of three agitos (red, blue and green) encircling a single point. These three colours were chosen because they are most widely represented in national flags across the world. World in a logo The new Paralympic Symbol (logo) was launched in 2003. It is a symbol in motion, with three Agitos (from the Latin meaning 'I move') encircling a centre point; emphasizing the role that the IPC has of bringing athletes from all corners of the world together and enabling them to compete. Logo of the Paralympic games The beginning The games began in 1948, but were called the Stoke Mandeville Games at that time. They became the Paralympics only in 1960 and were held in Rome. The first Winter Paralympics took place in 1967. World's second largest multi-sport event The Paralympics are the second largest multi-sport event in the world, second to the Olympics. Exclusive Paralympics sports Goalball (for the blind and visually-impaired) and Boccia are two sports that are unique to the Paralympics. Participation Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will compete in 528 events in 22 different sports. The Paralympics ceremony will see a participation from around 500 professional staff and 2,000 volunteers. Andrew Hodge waves after winning gold medal in the 100 m event during the 1992 Paralympics. Key players from South Asia The key players from South Asia include Afghanistan's Mohammad Naiem Durani, India's Devendra Jhajaria and Amit Kumar Saroha, Nepal's Bikram Rana and Laxmi Kunwar, Sri Lanka's Anil Prasanna and Pakistan's Haider Ali. 2016 Rio Paralympic Games are to be held from September 7 to September 18 at Rio’s iconic Maracana Stadium. Contributions by Ashna Mishra (WION Edge)

Rio Paralympics 2016: Seven things you need to know

The first female gymnast to represent India in Rio Olympics 2016 brought pride to the nation.

A tribute to Indian gymnast 'Dipa Karmakar'

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

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed 29 Russian swimmers to take part in the Rio Olympic Games, R-Sport news agency cited swimming&#39;s world governing body FINA as saying today. 
 
Swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, as well as female swimmer Yulia Efimova are not on the list, however, the agency reported. 
 
Lobintsev and US-based Morozov were part of Russia&#39;s bronze-medal winning 4x100m freestyle team at the London 2012 Games, while Lobintsev also won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at Beijing 2008. Efimova is a four-times breaststroke world champion. 
 
The IOC has allowed the whole Russian synchronised swimming team and the Russian female water polo team to take part in the Olympics, R-Sport said. 
 
(Reuters)

Swimmers Vladimir Morozov, Nikita Lobintsev and female swimmer, Yulia Efimova, are not on the list

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed 29 Russian swimmers to take part in the Rio Olympic Games, R-Sport news agency cited swimming's world governing body FINA as saying today. Swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, as well as female swimmer Yulia Efimova are not on the list, however, the agency reported. Lobintsev and US-based Morozov were part of Russia's bronze-medal winning 4x100m freestyle team at the London 2012 Games, while Lobintsev also won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at Beijing 2008. Efimova is a four-times breaststroke world champion. The IOC has allowed the whole Russian synchronised swimming team and the Russian female water polo team to take part in the Olympics, R-Sport said. (Reuters)

IOC clears 29 Russian swimmers to compete in Rio, says news agency

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday&#39;s opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. 
 
The US Olympic Committee said today that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium. 
 
Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for,&quot; said Phelps. 
 
&quot;For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history. 
 
&quot;And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it&#39;s about so much more than medals.&quot; 
 
Taking part in the opening ceremony will mean a late night for Phelps on Friday, with the stadium at least an hour away from the Athletes Village in Barra, and plenty of standing around as well. 
 
The 31-year-old will not be in action on the opening Saturday, however, with his first event likely to be the men&#39;s 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday. 
 
The US team have not announced their lineup for that event and Phelps is unlikely to take part in the afternoon heats, meaning he will make his competitive entry in the pool late in the evening if selected. 
 
(Reuters)

Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday's opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. The US Olympic Committee said today that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium. Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays. "I'm honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for," said Phelps. "For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history. "And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it's about so much more than medals." Taking part in the opening ceremony will mean a late night for Phelps on Friday, with the stadium at least an hour away from the Athletes Village in Barra, and plenty of standing around as well. The 31-year-old will not be in action on the opening Saturday, however, with his first event likely to be the men's 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday. The US team have not announced their lineup for that event and Phelps is unlikely to take part in the afternoon heats, meaning he will make his competitive entry in the pool late in the evening if selected. (Reuters)

Rio 2016: Michael Phelps chosen as US team flag bearer

A blanket ban on Russia at the Rio de Janeiro Games would have had devastating consequences, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Tuesday. 
 
The IOC opted not to ban all Russian athletes from the Rio Olympics after revelations of a wide state-backed doping programme across many sports. Instead, it chose a set of criteria for athletes to meet, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events, that so far has allowed more than 250 out of the original 387 Russian athletes to be cleared for Rio. 
 
Bach, speaking at the IOC session in the Brazilian city, said preventing clean athletes from competing and treating them as &quot;collateral damage&quot; would have been wrong. &quot;This blanket ban of the Russian Olympic Committee has been called by some the &#39;nuclear option&#39; and the innocent athletes would have to be considered as collateral damage,&quot; Bach said. 
 
&quot;Leaving aside that such a comparison is completely out of any proportion when it comes to the rules of sport. Let us just for a moment consider the consequences of a &#39;nuclear option&#39;. The result is death and devastation.&nbsp;The cynical &#39;collateral damage approach&#39; is not what the Olympic Movement stands for.&quot; 
 
Several anti-doping bodies, including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), as well as those from the United States, Canada and Germany, among others, had called on the IOC to implement a blanket ban on all Russian athletes. They expressed disappointment following the IOC&#39;s decision to allow some Russians to compete and accused the Games&#39; ruling body of lacking the leadership and courage to punish Russia. 
 
&quot;What is not acceptable is the insinuation of some proponents of the blanket ban that those who do not share their opinions are not fighting against doping,&quot; Bach said. &quot;On behalf of all these supporters, I reject this insinuation in the strongest terms.&nbsp;We may disagree how we get there but we all work toward the same goal of protecting clean athletes. Despite these discrepancies, we agree we must not allow such a situation to happen again,&quot; he added. Bach said the doping system needed completely restructuring. 
 
&quot;Engagement and not isolation is the key to build a more robust anti-doping system,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters)

Thomas Bach said preventing clean athletes from competing and treating them as 'collateral damage' would have been wrong

A blanket ban on Russia at the Rio de Janeiro Games would have had devastating consequences, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on Tuesday. The IOC opted not to ban all Russian athletes from the Rio Olympics after revelations of a wide state-backed doping programme across many sports. Instead, it chose a set of criteria for athletes to meet, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events, that so far has allowed more than 250 out of the original 387 Russian athletes to be cleared for Rio. Bach, speaking at the IOC session in the Brazilian city, said preventing clean athletes from competing and treating them as "collateral damage" would have been wrong. "This blanket ban of the Russian Olympic Committee has been called by some the 'nuclear option' and the innocent athletes would have to be considered as collateral damage," Bach said. "Leaving aside that such a comparison is completely out of any proportion when it comes to the rules of sport. Let us just for a moment consider the consequences of a 'nuclear option'. The result is death and devastation. The cynical 'collateral damage approach' is not what the Olympic Movement stands for." Several anti-doping bodies, including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), as well as those from the United States, Canada and Germany, among others, had called on the IOC to implement a blanket ban on all Russian athletes. They expressed disappointment following the IOC's decision to allow some Russians to compete and accused the Games' ruling body of lacking the leadership and courage to punish Russia. "What is not acceptable is the insinuation of some proponents of the blanket ban that those who do not share their opinions are not fighting against doping," Bach said. "On behalf of all these supporters, I reject this insinuation in the strongest terms. We may disagree how we get there but we all work toward the same goal of protecting clean athletes. Despite these discrepancies, we agree we must not allow such a situation to happen again," he added. Bach said the doping system needed completely restructuring. "Engagement and not isolation is the key to build a more robust anti-doping system," he said. (Reuters)

IOC president says blanket Rio ban on Russia would have been disastrous

&nbsp;Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful doubles team in men&#39;s tennis history, have pulled out of the defence of their title at the Rio Games saying their family&#39;s health is their top priority. 
 
&quot;After countless hours of deliberation Mike and I have decided to forego the Rio Olympics,&quot; the pair wrote on their Facebook page on Saturday.&nbsp;&quot;Though we&#39;d love to compete again, as husbands and fathers, our family&#39;s health is now our top priority.&quot; 
 
Many athletes have withdrawn from the Olympics over concerns about the mosquito-borne Zika virus linked to birth defects in newborn babies and possible neurological problems in adults. 
 
The Bryan brothers are both married and Bob has three children. The pair won Olympic gold at the London 2012 Games and own 112 titles together, including 16 grand slams. 
 
&quot;Representing Team USA is one of our proudest tennis moments to date, and winning Gold in 2012 will always remain the pinnacle of our career,&quot; the brothers added.&nbsp;&quot;The Olympics means so much to us for so many reasons and the memories we have wearing the Stars and Stripes will burn brightly forever.&nbsp;Thank you to the USTA (United States Tennis Association) for the nomination and to our fans for their unwavering support.&quot; 
 
Amiable off court, a well-oiled machine on it, the Bryans have carried men&#39;s doubles for more than a decade. 
 
Ten times they have ended a year as top dogs and have held the number one ranking together for close to 450 weeks in total. 
 
They were looking forward to representing their country at a fourth Olympics, having also won bronze in Beijing in 2008, and had planned to play with gold-painted rackets. 
 
Bob described their London triumph as the pair&#39;s &quot;greatest moment&quot;, while Mike said missing out in Athens on their Olympic debut in 2004, when they were expected to medal, was a low. 
 
In an interview with Reuters at this year&#39;s Wimbledon championships Bob also stressed the importance of the Games. 
 
&quot;We know Rio will be our last Olympics, I can safely say that. It&#39;s been a huge priority. When we sat down to plan the year in December we said peaking for Rio was the goal. Winning in Rio would mean everything,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters)

Tennis stars are the latest to withdraw from Olympics over fear of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, linked to birth defects in newborn babies

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful doubles team in men's tennis history, have pulled out of the defence of their title at the Rio Games saying their family's health is their top priority. "After countless hours of deliberation Mike and I have decided to forego the Rio Olympics," the pair wrote on their Facebook page on Saturday. "Though we'd love to compete again, as husbands and fathers, our family's health is now our top priority." Many athletes have withdrawn from the Olympics over concerns about the mosquito-borne Zika virus linked to birth defects in newborn babies and possible neurological problems in adults. The Bryan brothers are both married and Bob has three children. The pair won Olympic gold at the London 2012 Games and own 112 titles together, including 16 grand slams. "Representing Team USA is one of our proudest tennis moments to date, and winning Gold in 2012 will always remain the pinnacle of our career," the brothers added. "The Olympics means so much to us for so many reasons and the memories we have wearing the Stars and Stripes will burn brightly forever. Thank you to the USTA (United States Tennis Association) for the nomination and to our fans for their unwavering support." Amiable off court, a well-oiled machine on it, the Bryans have carried men's doubles for more than a decade. Ten times they have ended a year as top dogs and have held the number one ranking together for close to 450 weeks in total. They were looking forward to representing their country at a fourth Olympics, having also won bronze in Beijing in 2008, and had planned to play with gold-painted rackets. Bob described their London triumph as the pair's "greatest moment", while Mike said missing out in Athens on their Olympic debut in 2004, when they were expected to medal, was a low. In an interview with Reuters at this year's Wimbledon championships Bob also stressed the importance of the Games. "We know Rio will be our last Olympics, I can safely say that. It's been a huge priority. When we sat down to plan the year in December we said peaking for Rio was the goal. Winning in Rio would mean everything," he said. (Reuters)

Bryan brothers pull out of Rio Games, citing health concerns

Lydia Ko says she is &quot;super excited&quot; at the prospect of competing in her first Olympics next month although the women&#39;s world number one has decided against living at the Games village in Rio de Janeiro. 
 
Golf is returning to the Games for the first time since 1904 but the 19-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander wants to keep things as normal as possible for the 72-hole strokeplay competition in Brazil. 
 
&quot;I&#39;ve been excited about the Olympics since they announced it,&quot; Ko told Reuters in an interview after a rousing three-under-par 69 sent her sprinting through the field in the third round of the Ricoh Women&#39;s British Open today. 
 
&quot;Now that it&#39;s around the corner in a couple of weeks my heart is pounding. 
 
&quot;I was always going to stay outside of the village. I&#39;d love to stay in the village and get to meet other New Zealand athletes, but no, I&#39;ve decided to stay out so I can keep similar routines to when I play these kind of events (at Woburn).&quot; 
 
Double major winner, Ko, will be living at a hotel with her family, coach and New Zealand golf officials. 
 
The teenager loves home cooking and staying outside the Olympic Village will help her to maintain the same sort of lifestyle she has during regular tour events. 
 
&quot;I feel like I should try and not change my routines that much,&quot; said Ko. &quot;I&#39;m staying with my sisters so I should be in a similar atmosphere off the course. I feel that would be a good way to go. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t want to change my routines that much even though it&#39;s the Olympics.&quot; 
 
Ko&#39;s agent Michael Yim told Reuters: &quot;She always travels with her family and if she stays in the village she has to stay alone. 
 
More Flexibility 
 
&quot;Staying at a hotel she has a little more flexibility to go out if she wants to go out. Not that you can&#39;t in the village but it&#39;s kind of like constrained. 
 
&quot;I think she just wanted a bit more comfort. That was always the decision from the get-go ... she&#39;ll have support for anything she needs,&quot; added Yim. 
 
Ko believes the Rio Games will boost knowledge and awareness of women&#39;s golf and provide the sport with a huge lift. 
 
&quot;Golf is quite an individual game,&quot; she said. &quot;Obviously we need a team around us but at the Olympics you are not just representing yourself and your team but your country as well. 
 
&quot;I think this could make a big difference in the game of golf especially women&#39;s golf.&quot; 
 
There was certainly a big difference in Ko&#39;s game today compared to the opening two rounds at the fourth and penultimate women&#39;s major of the season. 
 
The teenager went on an inspired run, firing six birdies in nine holes to the 16th. 
 
A lot of Ko&#39;s work was undone, though, when she lost her ball off the tee at the 18th and slipped to a closing double-bogey six. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s tough to finish on that but it&#39;s the best score I&#39;ve had during this tournament,&quot; she said after finishing with a three-under total of 213. 
 
&quot;The best cure for a double-bogey is a toffee, or sugar, any type of sugar; I love my chocolate,&quot; laughed Ko. 
 
(Reuters)

The Golfer loves home cooking and staying outside the Olympic Village will help her maintain the same lifestyle

Lydia Ko says she is "super excited" at the prospect of competing in her first Olympics next month although the women's world number one has decided against living at the Games village in Rio de Janeiro. Golf is returning to the Games for the first time since 1904 but the 19-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander wants to keep things as normal as possible for the 72-hole strokeplay competition in Brazil. "I've been excited about the Olympics since they announced it," Ko told Reuters in an interview after a rousing three-under-par 69 sent her sprinting through the field in the third round of the Ricoh Women's British Open today. "Now that it's around the corner in a couple of weeks my heart is pounding. "I was always going to stay outside of the village. I'd love to stay in the village and get to meet other New Zealand athletes, but no, I've decided to stay out so I can keep similar routines to when I play these kind of events (at Woburn)." Double major winner, Ko, will be living at a hotel with her family, coach and New Zealand golf officials. The teenager loves home cooking and staying outside the Olympic Village will help her to maintain the same sort of lifestyle she has during regular tour events. "I feel like I should try and not change my routines that much," said Ko. "I'm staying with my sisters so I should be in a similar atmosphere off the course. I feel that would be a good way to go. "I don't want to change my routines that much even though it's the Olympics." Ko's agent Michael Yim told Reuters: "She always travels with her family and if she stays in the village she has to stay alone. More Flexibility "Staying at a hotel she has a little more flexibility to go out if she wants to go out. Not that you can't in the village but it's kind of like constrained. "I think she just wanted a bit more comfort. That was always the decision from the get-go ... she'll have support for anything she needs," added Yim. Ko believes the Rio Games will boost knowledge and awareness of women's golf and provide the sport with a huge lift. "Golf is quite an individual game," she said. "Obviously we need a team around us but at the Olympics you are not just representing yourself and your team but your country as well. "I think this could make a big difference in the game of golf especially women's golf." There was certainly a big difference in Ko's game today compared to the opening two rounds at the fourth and penultimate women's major of the season. The teenager went on an inspired run, firing six birdies in nine holes to the 16th. A lot of Ko's work was undone, though, when she lost her ball off the tee at the 18th and slipped to a closing double-bogey six. "It's tough to finish on that but it's the best score I've had during this tournament," she said after finishing with a three-under total of 213. "The best cure for a double-bogey is a toffee, or sugar, any type of sugar; I love my chocolate," laughed Ko. (Reuters)

World number 1 Ko will not stay at Olympic Village

Canoeing&#39;s governing body has banned five Russians, including a gold medallist and a five-times world champion, from next month&#39;s Rio Olympics after an explosive independent report revealed state-run doping across Russian sport. 
 
&quot;We are clear that if you step out of line you won`t make the start line,&quot; International Canoe Federation secretary general Simon Toulson said, as canoeing became the latest sport to bar Russians from the Games in the fall-out over the roiling doping controversy. 
 
Their exclusion takes the number of Russians banned from taking part in Rio to 18 since Sunday when the International Olympic Committee decided not to issue a blanket ban on all Russian competitors, instead leaving it up to each sport to decide what to do. 
 
&quot;The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has taken swift action to remove five Russian canoe sprint athletes from the Rio Olympic Games following the release of additional information naming those implicated by the McLaren report,&quot; the ICF said. 
 
&quot;In each case the ICF will impose an immediate suspension pending further investigation making the offending athletes ineligible to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.&quot; 
 
The five were named as Elena Aniushina, Natalia Podolskaya, Alexander Dyachenko, Andrey Kraitor and Alexey Korovashkov. 
 
Korovashkov, a five-times world champion, won a bronze medal in London four years ago and Dyachenko won gold in a doubles kayak sprint. 
 
The Olympics begin on August 5. 
 
(AFP)

Their exclusion takes the number of Russians banned from taking part in Rio to 18 since Sunday after IOC decided not to issue blanket ban

Canoeing's governing body has banned five Russians, including a gold medallist and a five-times world champion, from next month's Rio Olympics after an explosive independent report revealed state-run doping across Russian sport. "We are clear that if you step out of line you won`t make the start line," International Canoe Federation secretary general Simon Toulson said, as canoeing became the latest sport to bar Russians from the Games in the fall-out over the roiling doping controversy. Their exclusion takes the number of Russians banned from taking part in Rio to 18 since Sunday when the International Olympic Committee decided not to issue a blanket ban on all Russian competitors, instead leaving it up to each sport to decide what to do. "The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has taken swift action to remove five Russian canoe sprint athletes from the Rio Olympic Games following the release of additional information naming those implicated by the McLaren report," the ICF said. "In each case the ICF will impose an immediate suspension pending further investigation making the offending athletes ineligible to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games." The five were named as Elena Aniushina, Natalia Podolskaya, Alexander Dyachenko, Andrey Kraitor and Alexey Korovashkov. Korovashkov, a five-times world champion, won a bronze medal in London four years ago and Dyachenko won gold in a doubles kayak sprint. The Olympics begin on August 5. (AFP)

Five Russian canoers, including five-times world champion Korovashkov, banned from Rio

After reports of Narsingh Yadav failing doping test surfaced on Sunday, his roommate Sandeep Yadav, in a latest development, has also been reported to have failed the test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). 
 
The two wrestlers are roommates at the Sports Authority of India, Sonepat, according to zeenews.com. Narsingh, who tested positive for a banned steroid in the &#39;B&#39; sample, appeared in front of the NADA disciplinary panel on Saturday. Both of them tested positive in methandienone, an anabolic steroid, the tests of which were conducted on June 25.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I am doing so well, why would I even take banned steroids? : Narsingh Yadav
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757489324447371264">July 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
While Narsingh had won a long legal battle against Sushil Kumar to be a part of Rio 2016 squad, Sandeep was not selected in the Indian contingent. Narsingh&#39;s Rio dreams, however, look over as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have reportedly withheld his accreditation card. 
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I should be sent to Rio Olympics and hope this will be sorted out soon. I have written to federation,want justice: Narsingh Yadav
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/757490070966378496">July 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
 
 
The WFI team has postponed their preparatory camp trip to Georgia, which was supposed to leave on Monday. If found guilty, Narsingh&#39;s absence at Rio will be a huge blow to India as the final date to send the list of athletes participating in Olympics was July 18, leaving no chance for a replacement in the 74 kilogram category. 
 
(DNA)

Sandeep can't make it to Rio anyway, but his roommate Narsingh's Olympics hopes appear to be over

After reports of Narsingh Yadav failing doping test surfaced on Sunday, his roommate Sandeep Yadav, in a latest development, has also been reported to have failed the test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The two wrestlers are roommates at the Sports Authority of India, Sonepat, according to zeenews.com. Narsingh, who tested positive for a banned steroid in the 'B' sample, appeared in front of the NADA disciplinary panel on Saturday. Both of them tested positive in methandienone, an anabolic steroid, the tests of which were conducted on June 25. I am doing so well, why would I even take banned steroids? : Narsingh Yadav — ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2016 While Narsingh had won a long legal battle against Sushil Kumar to be a part of Rio 2016 squad, Sandeep was not selected in the Indian contingent. Narsingh's Rio dreams, however, look over as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have reportedly withheld his accreditation card. I should be sent to Rio Olympics and hope this will be sorted out soon. I have written to federation,want justice: Narsingh Yadav — ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2016 The WFI team has postponed their preparatory camp trip to Georgia, which was supposed to leave on Monday. If found guilty, Narsingh's absence at Rio will be a huge blow to India as the final date to send the list of athletes participating in Olympics was July 18, leaving no chance for a replacement in the 74 kilogram category. (DNA)

Wrestlers Narsingh and Sandeep Yadav both fail Olympic doping test

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today decided not to hit Russia with a blanket ban for the Rio Games over state-run doping, but said each sports federation needed to establish a competitor&#39;s individual eligibility.&nbsp; 
 
Federations &quot;should carry out an individual analysis of each athlete&#39;s anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of the athlete&#39;s sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field,&quot; the IOC said in a statement. 
 
It comes after the IOC held showdown talks on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant doping that sparked the Olympic movement&#39;s worst crisis in decades. 
 
The Russian athletics team was already banned from Rio for state-sponsored doping. 
 
An independent report last week for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Russia&#39;s sports ministry directed a vast doping programme with support from the state intelligence agency that saw thousands of tainted urine samples destroyed or swapped for clean ones.&nbsp; 
 
The cheating affected 30 sports and went on during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major Olympic and international events, according to the WADA report last week by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren.&nbsp; 
 
The Games begin on August 5. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

This comes after the International Olympic Committee held showdown talks on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant doping

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today decided not to hit Russia with a blanket ban for the Rio Games over state-run doping, but said each sports federation needed to establish a competitor's individual eligibility. Federations "should carry out an individual analysis of each athlete's anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of the athlete's sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field," the IOC said in a statement. It comes after the IOC held showdown talks on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant doping that sparked the Olympic movement's worst crisis in decades. The Russian athletics team was already banned from Rio for state-sponsored doping. An independent report last week for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Russia's sports ministry directed a vast doping programme with support from the state intelligence agency that saw thousands of tainted urine samples destroyed or swapped for clean ones. The cheating affected 30 sports and went on during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major Olympic and international events, according to the WADA report last week by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren. The Games begin on August 5. (AFP)

No blanket ban for Russia for Rio games: IOC

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt brushed aside concerns surrounding his fitness ahead of next month&#39;s Rio Olympics as he cruised to victory in the 200 metres at the London Anniversary Games. 
 
The six-time Olympic gold medallist showed no signs of rust, winning the race in 19.89 seconds in his return following a pelvic injury, the Mirror reported. 
 
The world&#39;s fastest man will aim to become the first person to win the 100 metre and 200 metre double at three consecutive Games when he will feature in the Rio Olympics.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)

Usain Bolt, the six-time Olympic gold medallist, won the race in 19.89 seconds in his return following a pelvic injury

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt brushed aside concerns surrounding his fitness ahead of next month's Rio Olympics as he cruised to victory in the 200 metres at the London Anniversary Games. The six-time Olympic gold medallist showed no signs of rust, winning the race in 19.89 seconds in his return following a pelvic injury, the Mirror reported. The world's fastest man will aim to become the first person to win the 100 metre and 200 metre double at three consecutive Games when he will feature in the Rio Olympics. (ANI)

Bolt quashes fitness concerns, cruises to 200m victory in London

Usain Bolt delivered on his top billing by winning the 200 metres at the London Diamond League on Friday but the Jamaican was upstaged for once as American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book. 
 
Bolt, running his first 200 metre race in a year since his last outing on the track before the Olympics, struggled for his usual rhythm as he laboured to victory in 19.89 seconds. 
 
However, having pulled out of the Jamaican trials last month with a hamstring strain, he was delighted to get through Friday&rsquo;s race uninjured and can now go away and fine-tune for his attempt at the triple-triple of 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay golds in Rio. 
 
Harrison, however, will be watching the Games on TV having finished sixth in the 100m hurdles at the US trials after breaking the national record in May. 
 
She earned some consolation - as well as a $50,000 bonus - on Friday with a stunning world record. 
 
After delivering a silky smooth performance to win, the clock initially showed a modest 12.58 seconds. 
 
However, it was quickly corrected to 12.20, one hundredth of a second faster than the mark set by Bulgaria&#39;s Yordanka Donkova in 1988 - four years before Harrison was born. 
 
Brianna Rollins (12.57), Kristi Castlin (12.59) and Ali Nia (12.63), all Rio-bound after finishing 1-2-3 in the US trials, finished in the same order, behind Harrison on Friday. 
 
&quot;I wanted to come out here with a vengeance to show that even though I won&#39;t be going to the Olympics I had to give it all I had,&quot; said Harrison, who collapsed to the track in tears when she saw the revised time. 
 
There was a more muted celebration for Bolt, who nevertheless delighted the crowd by winning then spending his usual remarkable amount of time signing autographs, posing for photos and giving endless media interviews. 
 
After a steady start he led halfway round the bend, but only just. As he hit the straight and the crowd expected the sort of surge that brought him three Olympic golds on the same track four years ago, it didn&rsquo;t happen. 
 
Rocking noticeably, he had to work all the way to the line, for a time considerably shy of American LaShawn Merritt&#39;s season-leading 19.74. Panama&#39;s Edward Alonso was second in 20.04 with Briton Adam Gemili third in 20.07. 
 
&quot;I tried to hold my form. I&#39;m not fully in shape and I don&rsquo;t think I executed well - I need more work,&quot; said Bolt, who turns 30 next month. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t want to see it again. I wasn&#39;t that impressed,&quot; he added of his performance. 
 
&quot;But I&#39;m feeling good and happy I could run and finish the race without any injuries.&quot; 
 
Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas will also head to Rio in confident mood after posting a world-leading 49.55 to win the women&#39;s 400 metres, setting up a mouth-watering one-lap showdown with Allyson Felix. 
 
There was plenty to cheer for the home fans in the Olympic Stadium now decked out in the claret and blue of its new tenants, West Ham United soccer club. 
 
Britain&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s 4x100m relay team opened proceedings by triumphing in a national record 41.82 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. 
 
Laura Muir also channelled the spirit of 2012&#39;s &quot;Super Saturday&quot; when the crowd roared her home in a gutsy front-running victory in the women&rsquo;s 1500m for a huge personal best and another British record of 3:57.49 &ndash; knocking Olympic champion Kelly Holmes off top spot. 
 
Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut won a disappointing 100 metres final in 10.02, having been the only man to dip under 10 seconds with a 9.96 in the heats. 
 
The action continues on Saturday, with the day&rsquo;s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah. 
 
(Reuters)

American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book though she has not qualified for the Olympic Games

Usain Bolt delivered on his top billing by winning the 200 metres at the London Diamond League on Friday but the Jamaican was upstaged for once as American sprint hurdler Kendra Harrison broke one of the oldest world records in the book. Bolt, running his first 200 metre race in a year since his last outing on the track before the Olympics, struggled for his usual rhythm as he laboured to victory in 19.89 seconds. However, having pulled out of the Jamaican trials last month with a hamstring strain, he was delighted to get through Friday’s race uninjured and can now go away and fine-tune for his attempt at the triple-triple of 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay golds in Rio. Harrison, however, will be watching the Games on TV having finished sixth in the 100m hurdles at the US trials after breaking the national record in May. She earned some consolation - as well as a $50,000 bonus - on Friday with a stunning world record. After delivering a silky smooth performance to win, the clock initially showed a modest 12.58 seconds. However, it was quickly corrected to 12.20, one hundredth of a second faster than the mark set by Bulgaria's Yordanka Donkova in 1988 - four years before Harrison was born. Brianna Rollins (12.57), Kristi Castlin (12.59) and Ali Nia (12.63), all Rio-bound after finishing 1-2-3 in the US trials, finished in the same order, behind Harrison on Friday. "I wanted to come out here with a vengeance to show that even though I won't be going to the Olympics I had to give it all I had," said Harrison, who collapsed to the track in tears when she saw the revised time. There was a more muted celebration for Bolt, who nevertheless delighted the crowd by winning then spending his usual remarkable amount of time signing autographs, posing for photos and giving endless media interviews. After a steady start he led halfway round the bend, but only just. As he hit the straight and the crowd expected the sort of surge that brought him three Olympic golds on the same track four years ago, it didn’t happen. Rocking noticeably, he had to work all the way to the line, for a time considerably shy of American LaShawn Merritt's season-leading 19.74. Panama's Edward Alonso was second in 20.04 with Briton Adam Gemili third in 20.07. "I tried to hold my form. I'm not fully in shape and I don’t think I executed well - I need more work," said Bolt, who turns 30 next month. "I don't want to see it again. I wasn't that impressed," he added of his performance. "But I'm feeling good and happy I could run and finish the race without any injuries." Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas will also head to Rio in confident mood after posting a world-leading 49.55 to win the women's 400 metres, setting up a mouth-watering one-lap showdown with Allyson Felix. There was plenty to cheer for the home fans in the Olympic Stadium now decked out in the claret and blue of its new tenants, West Ham United soccer club. Britain’s women’s 4x100m relay team opened proceedings by triumphing in a national record 41.82 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Laura Muir also channelled the spirit of 2012's "Super Saturday" when the crowd roared her home in a gutsy front-running victory in the women’s 1500m for a huge personal best and another British record of 3:57.49 – knocking Olympic champion Kelly Holmes off top spot. Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut won a disappointing 100 metres final in 10.02, having been the only man to dip under 10 seconds with a 9.96 in the heats. The action continues on Saturday, with the day’s highlight being the 5,000m, featuring home favourite Mo Farah. (Reuters)

Harrison breaks 28-year record as Bolt overcomes injury to head to Rio

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

Brazil&nbsp;arrested 10&nbsp;suspected of belonging to a poorly-organised group supporting Islamic State (IS) on Thursday and for plotting terrorist acts during the next month&#39;s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The group, described as &quot;absolutely amateur&quot; by justice minister Alexandre Moraes, were all Brazilian citizens and in contact via messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. They did not know each other personally, the minister said.

The arrests came a week after a truck massacre in Nice, France, and amid growing fears of a possible attack when the Olympics starts on August 5. Some 500,000 visitors are expected to travel to&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;for the Games, many of them from the United States.

Although&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;has no history of conflict with known militant groups, Moraes said the Games had made the Latin American country a more likely target, particularly because of participation by countries fighting IS.

&quot;Today was the first operation against a supposed terrorist cell in&nbsp;Brazil,&quot; he told a news conference. &quot;Brazil&nbsp;was not part of the coalition against IS but, because of the upcoming Olympics and because it will receive many foreigners,&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;has become a target.&quot;

Moraes said the individuals detained on Thursday were being monitored because they had accessed websites linked to IS, but the group had &quot;no preparation at all&quot; and was a &quot;disorganised cell&quot;. He said that authorities intervened when the group started planning actions including martial-arts training and the purchase of firearms.

While the group did not have direct contact with IS, some members had made &quot;pro forma&quot; declarations of allegiance to the militant Islamist group via social media, the minister said.

A presidential aide said on Thursday that&nbsp;Brazilian police and intelligence services had cooperated with French, German, British, Israeli and US&nbsp;intelligence agencies in the arrests.

Brazil&#39;s federal police are monitoring around 100 people for possible links to terrorist groups, mostly in the lawless tri-border region with Paraguay and Argentina, said the aide, requesting anonymity.

&quot;Brazil&nbsp;was really being preemptive in this case,&quot; said Scott Stewart, vice president of tactical analysis at Stratfor, a global intelligence and advisory firm. &quot;There are some tactical benefits to arrests like this...You could disrupt anything in the works and it may also give other people pause.&quot;

Operation Hashtag

Brazil&nbsp;plans to deploy about 85,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel during the Rio Games, more than twice as many in place for the London Olympics in 2012.

It will also operate a joint security centre where representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to help share intelligence and monitor the event.

Local media raised concern that the arrests might affect ticket sales for the Games, with the release of 100,000 tickets on Thursday aimed at improving attendance.

The local Olympic organising committee, Rio 2016, referred requests for comment to the federal government.

Moraes said there was no evidence that the group had acquired weapons though one member had contacted a clandestine weapons site in neighbouring Paraguay that sells AK-47 assault rifles.

&quot;Those involved participated in an online group denominated &#39;the defenders of Sharia&#39; and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;and even overseas,&quot; Moraes said.

Two will be brought in for questioning, including the head of a local NGO, in addition to the 10 arrested across as many states, Moraes added.

Federal judge Marcos Josegrei da Silva, who approved the arrests from the southern city of Curitiba, said police had 30 days to analyse evidence. He emphasized that no-one had been charged in the operation, codenamed Hashtag.

&quot;These are internet affirmations on social networks,&quot; Josegrei told a news conference. &quot;Not everything a person conceives of in the virtual world is carried out in the real world.&quot;

Interim president Michel Temer called an emergency cabinet meeting following the arrests, the first under&nbsp;Brazil&#39;s tough new anti-terrorism law approved this year.

Brazilian and US&nbsp;officials have raised concern over the disappearance of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jihad Diyab, after he had resettled in neighbouring Uruguay, saying he could now be in&nbsp;Brazil.

Last week,&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;deported a French-Algerian nuclear physicist convicted by a Paris court in 2012 for his involvement in helping to plot an attack in France in 2009 with an al Qaeda militant in Algeria.

Brazil&#39;s intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to the Rio Olympics, after a previously unknown&nbsp;Brazilian Islamist group calling itself &quot;Ansar al-Khilafah&nbsp;Brazil&quot; pledged allegiance to IS. It was unclear whether those detained on Thursday have any relation with that group.

On Wednesday, SITE Intelligence Group, a US&nbsp;company that monitors the internet, said alleged Islamist militants were giving advice for lone actors to carry out attacks during the Games, including the use of toy drones. The messages are being sent via the mobile messaging system Telegram, SITE said.

Stratfor&#39;s Stewart said that, with no ability to project terrorist operatives into&nbsp;Brazil, IS could only seek to encourage grassroots groups.&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;has one of the world&#39;s largest Arab diasporas, mostly Christians of Syrian and Lebanese origins.

After last week&#39;s attack in Nice, France,&nbsp;Brazilian authorities said they would step up security measures for the Games by adding further roadblocks and cordons and frisking more visitors in Rio de Janeiro.&nbsp;Brazilian police have travelled to Nice to study the attacks there, officials said. 
 
(Reuters)

The Games and the influx of foreigners making Brazil a target for terror groups, justice minister said

Brazil arrested 10 suspected of belonging to a poorly-organised group supporting Islamic State (IS) on Thursday and for plotting terrorist acts during the next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The group, described as "absolutely amateur" by justice minister Alexandre Moraes, were all Brazilian citizens and in contact via messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. They did not know each other personally, the minister said. The arrests came a week after a truck massacre in Nice, France, and amid growing fears of a possible attack when the Olympics starts on August 5. Some 500,000 visitors are expected to travel to Brazil for the Games, many of them from the United States. Although Brazil has no history of conflict with known militant groups, Moraes said the Games had made the Latin American country a more likely target, particularly because of participation by countries fighting IS. "Today was the first operation against a supposed terrorist cell in Brazil," he told a news conference. "Brazil was not part of the coalition against IS but, because of the upcoming Olympics and because it will receive many foreigners, Brazil has become a target." Moraes said the individuals detained on Thursday were being monitored because they had accessed websites linked to IS, but the group had "no preparation at all" and was a "disorganised cell". He said that authorities intervened when the group started planning actions including martial-arts training and the purchase of firearms. While the group did not have direct contact with IS, some members had made "pro forma" declarations of allegiance to the militant Islamist group via social media, the minister said. A presidential aide said on Thursday that Brazilian police and intelligence services had cooperated with French, German, British, Israeli and US intelligence agencies in the arrests. Brazil's federal police are monitoring around 100 people for possible links to terrorist groups, mostly in the lawless tri-border region with Paraguay and Argentina, said the aide, requesting anonymity. "Brazil was really being preemptive in this case," said Scott Stewart, vice president of tactical analysis at Stratfor, a global intelligence and advisory firm. "There are some tactical benefits to arrests like this...You could disrupt anything in the works and it may also give other people pause." Operation Hashtag Brazil plans to deploy about 85,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel during the Rio Games, more than twice as many in place for the London Olympics in 2012. It will also operate a joint security centre where representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to help share intelligence and monitor the event. Local media raised concern that the arrests might affect ticket sales for the Games, with the release of 100,000 tickets on Thursday aimed at improving attendance. The local Olympic organising committee, Rio 2016, referred requests for comment to the federal government. Moraes said there was no evidence that the group had acquired weapons though one member had contacted a clandestine weapons site in neighbouring Paraguay that sells AK-47 assault rifles. "Those involved participated in an online group denominated 'the defenders of Sharia' and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in Brazil and even overseas," Moraes said. Two will be brought in for questioning, including the head of a local NGO, in addition to the 10 arrested across as many states, Moraes added. Federal judge Marcos Josegrei da Silva, who approved the arrests from the southern city of Curitiba, said police had 30 days to analyse evidence. He emphasized that no-one had been charged in the operation, codenamed Hashtag. "These are internet affirmations on social networks," Josegrei told a news conference. "Not everything a person conceives of in the virtual world is carried out in the real world." Interim president Michel Temer called an emergency cabinet meeting following the arrests, the first under Brazil's tough new anti-terrorism law approved this year. Brazilian and US officials have raised concern over the disappearance of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jihad Diyab, after he had resettled in neighbouring Uruguay, saying he could now be in Brazil. Last week, Brazil deported a French-Algerian nuclear physicist convicted by a Paris court in 2012 for his involvement in helping to plot an attack in France in 2009 with an al Qaeda militant in Algeria. Brazil's intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to the Rio Olympics, after a previously unknown Brazilian Islamist group calling itself "Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil" pledged allegiance to IS. It was unclear whether those detained on Thursday have any relation with that group. On Wednesday, SITE Intelligence Group, a US company that monitors the internet, said alleged Islamist militants were giving advice for lone actors to carry out attacks during the Games, including the use of toy drones. The messages are being sent via the mobile messaging system Telegram, SITE said. Stratfor's Stewart said that, with no ability to project terrorist operatives into Brazil, IS could only seek to encourage grassroots groups. Brazil has one of the world's largest Arab diasporas, mostly Christians of Syrian and Lebanese origins. After last week's attack in Nice, France, Brazilian authorities said they would step up security measures for the Games by adding further roadblocks and cordons and frisking more visitors in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian police have travelled to Nice to study the attacks there, officials said. (Reuters)

Brazil arrests 10 for plotting terror acts during Olympics

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Wednesday reinstated credentials of a drug testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games, ending a month-long suspension that had threatened to embarrass the host country. 
 
The decision avoided a backup scheme to send blood and urine samples from Olympic athletes to labs outside Brazil during the Games. 
 
Similar steps were taken after the same lab at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro lost its credentials for the 2014 World Cup, also held in Brazil. 
 
The agency did not explain how the lab had failed to comply with international standards in June or what steps had been taken to fix the situation. 
 
Technical errors leading to false results were likely the cause of the suspension, a source familiar with the decision told Reuters in June. 
 
&quot;Athletes can be confident that anti-doping sample analysis has been robust throughout the laboratory&#39;s suspension and that it will also be during the Games,&quot; WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. 
 
The suspension just weeks ahead of the Olympics was a high-profile black eye for the lab, in which Brazil recently invested 188 million reais ($58 million) for new equipment and facilities. 
 
Doping is a major concern ahead of the Rio Games on Aug. 5-21, the first Olympics to be held in South America. 
 
Several anti-doping agencies are pushing to ban Russian athletes after charges of state-backed doping at the 2014 winter Olympics. 
 
(Reuters)

WADA had suspended credentials of the laboratory on June 24 for failing to comply with international standards

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Wednesday reinstated credentials of a drug testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games, ending a month-long suspension that had threatened to embarrass the host country. The decision avoided a backup scheme to send blood and urine samples from Olympic athletes to labs outside Brazil during the Games. Similar steps were taken after the same lab at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro lost its credentials for the 2014 World Cup, also held in Brazil. The agency did not explain how the lab had failed to comply with international standards in June or what steps had been taken to fix the situation. Technical errors leading to false results were likely the cause of the suspension, a source familiar with the decision told Reuters in June. "Athletes can be confident that anti-doping sample analysis has been robust throughout the laboratory's suspension and that it will also be during the Games," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. The suspension just weeks ahead of the Olympics was a high-profile black eye for the lab, in which Brazil recently invested 188 million reais ($58 million) for new equipment and facilities. Doping is a major concern ahead of the Rio Games on Aug. 5-21, the first Olympics to be held in South America. Several anti-doping agencies are pushing to ban Russian athletes after charges of state-backed doping at the 2014 winter Olympics. (Reuters)

Rio drug lab recertified for Olympic testing

If Rio residents think the curvy ancient Greek goddess stamped on the Olympic medals looks familiar, they wouldn&#39;t be wrong: she&#39;s modelled on Brazilian women. 
 
&quot;Rio de Janeiro is a city full of curves in the sea and hills, just like the body of the Brazilian woman,&quot; said sculptor Nelson Carneiro, 60, who created the 5,130 bronze, silver and gold medals at the national mint, called Casa da Moeda, near Rio de Janeiro. 
 
Carneiro says the sensuous side of the city inspired his depiction on the medals of the Greek goddess Nike ahead of the Summer Games starting August 5. 
 
&quot;I gave Nike curves. I gave her bigger thighs and hips,&quot; he said. 
 
Nike, the goddess of victory in Greek mythology, has been the face of Olympic medals since the 2004 Athens Games, with the Parthenon temple in the background. 
 
&quot;However, each country can make its own adaptations,&quot; said Carneiro, who works with some 2,800 other people at the mint. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a special medal made for the world&#39;s biggest event. When the athlete receives that medal, I&#39;ll feel as if I&#39;ve also been decorated,&quot; Carneiro said. 
 
The medals may celebrate ancient tradition, but the technology mixes artisanal and 21st century techniques. 
 
First, Carneiro sculpts the design in clay and this is copied by a 3D printer. A steel mold is used to stamp the medals in a hydraulic press and medals are then polished to remove imperfections. 
 
Fortress : 
 
The national mint is in an out of the way neighborhood of Santa Cruz, a town north of Rio de Janeiro. Visitors to the facility, which is surrounded by towers and surveillance cameras, are searched as they come in - and when they leave. 
 
&quot;This is also where we make the coins and bank notes circulating in the whole country, as well as Brazilian passports and postal stamps,&quot; said the head of the medals section, Victor Hugo Berbert. 
 
Work on the medals started a month ago and will go right up to July 31, less than a week before the opening ceremony. The Olympics will have 2,488 medals and the Paralympics, which run from September 7-18, will have 2,642. 
 
Each medal weighs 17.6 ounces (500 grams), 20 per cent more than the ones handed out in London and heavier than in any previous Olympics. 
 
The coveted gold medals are not really gold - they have 17.4 ounces (494 grams) of silver and just 0.2 ounces (six grams) of gold plating. 
 
&quot;If they were solid gold it would cost a fortune,&quot; Berbert said, without disclosing the prices. 
 
Silver medals are fully silver. The bronze medals, though, are arguably brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, rather than bronze which typically mixes copper and tin. 
 
Paralympic medals contain small steel balls to help identify them by sound for those with poor vision. 
 
(AFP)

Sculptor Nelson Carneiro, 60, who created the 5,130 bronze, silver and gold medals at the national mint gave a local flavour to his work

If Rio residents think the curvy ancient Greek goddess stamped on the Olympic medals looks familiar, they wouldn't be wrong: she's modelled on Brazilian women. "Rio de Janeiro is a city full of curves in the sea and hills, just like the body of the Brazilian woman," said sculptor Nelson Carneiro, 60, who created the 5,130 bronze, silver and gold medals at the national mint, called Casa da Moeda, near Rio de Janeiro. Carneiro says the sensuous side of the city inspired his depiction on the medals of the Greek goddess Nike ahead of the Summer Games starting August 5. "I gave Nike curves. I gave her bigger thighs and hips," he said. Nike, the goddess of victory in Greek mythology, has been the face of Olympic medals since the 2004 Athens Games, with the Parthenon temple in the background. "However, each country can make its own adaptations," said Carneiro, who works with some 2,800 other people at the mint. "It's a special medal made for the world's biggest event. When the athlete receives that medal, I'll feel as if I've also been decorated," Carneiro said. The medals may celebrate ancient tradition, but the technology mixes artisanal and 21st century techniques. First, Carneiro sculpts the design in clay and this is copied by a 3D printer. A steel mold is used to stamp the medals in a hydraulic press and medals are then polished to remove imperfections. Fortress : The national mint is in an out of the way neighborhood of Santa Cruz, a town north of Rio de Janeiro. Visitors to the facility, which is surrounded by towers and surveillance cameras, are searched as they come in - and when they leave. "This is also where we make the coins and bank notes circulating in the whole country, as well as Brazilian passports and postal stamps," said the head of the medals section, Victor Hugo Berbert. Work on the medals started a month ago and will go right up to July 31, less than a week before the opening ceremony. The Olympics will have 2,488 medals and the Paralympics, which run from September 7-18, will have 2,642. Each medal weighs 17.6 ounces (500 grams), 20 per cent more than the ones handed out in London and heavier than in any previous Olympics. The coveted gold medals are not really gold - they have 17.4 ounces (494 grams) of silver and just 0.2 ounces (six grams) of gold plating. "If they were solid gold it would cost a fortune," Berbert said, without disclosing the prices. Silver medals are fully silver. The bronze medals, though, are arguably brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, rather than bronze which typically mixes copper and tin. Paralympic medals contain small steel balls to help identify them by sound for those with poor vision. (AFP)

Greek goddess on Olympics medal gets Brazilian curves

Brazil said on Friday that it will bolster security for next month&#39;s Olympics in Rio following the truck attack in the French city of Nice. 
 
Brazil&#39;s interim president Michel Temer held an emergency meeting with his intelligence chief and members of his cabinet late Friday to weigh the next steps after the Nice attack, which killed at least 84 people. 
 
As he left the meeting, intelligence chief Sergio Etchegoyen said new security measures would include extra checkpoints, barricades and traffic restrictions. 
 
Brazil had already planned to deploy 85,000 police and soldiers to provide security for the Olympics, running August 5-21, which is double the number used in the 2012 London Games. 
 
Heightened fears, heightened security 
 
Etchegoyen said fears over security at the Rio Games had &quot;gone up a notch&quot; &nbsp;after the attack in Nice, where a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne white truck into a huge crowd gathered to watch the annual Bastille Day fireworks display on Thursday, leaving a gruesome trail of bodies in his wake. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re trading a little comfort for a lot more security,&quot; he told a press conference at the presidential offices. 
 
Brazilian intelligence officials met with French counterparts for a briefing on the Nice attack, he said. 
 
Defense Minister Raul Jungmann expressed &quot;worries&quot; over the Nice attack. 
 
&quot;This worry will translate to more checkpoints, security, staff and procedures being put in place,&quot; he told reporters at an air force base near the Rio international airport. 
 
Jungmann said Brazil is corresponding with all 106 countries sending representatives to the event&#39;s international intelligence center. 
 
&quot;As of now, none of these countries have informed us of a potential or concrete threat of a terrorist attack in Brazil,&quot; Jungmann said. 
 
Brazil is already on alert after the French military intelligence chief said France had been informed of a planned terror attack on its team at the Rio Olympics. 
 
In June, Brazil&#39;s intelligence service said it had detected Portuguese-language messages linked to the Islamic State group on an online forum. 
 
An even more explicit warning came after bloody attacks in Paris in November, when a French jihadist tweeted that Brazil was the &quot;next target.&quot; 
 
Jungmann said officials will supervise the Olympic delegations based on the security threat they face, with countries including the United States and France labeled as high-risk. 
 
&quot;The dozen or so countries in that group will have special accompaniment,&quot; Jungmann said. 
 
Simulation exercises&nbsp; 
 
Security services staged simulation exercises in Rio to test counterterrorism response plans. 
 
Another exercise on &quot;confronting external threats&quot; is planned for today at the railway station in Deodoro, one of four Olympic zones in Rio along with Maracana, Copacabana and Barra da Tijuca. 
 
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and Olympic organizing committee president Carlos Nuzman met with federal and regional government officials to assess plans, notably discussing a potential increase in street blockades. 
 
(AFP) 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The country had already planned to deploy 85,000 cops, soldiers, double the number used in 2012 London Games

Brazil said on Friday that it will bolster security for next month's Olympics in Rio following the truck attack in the French city of Nice. Brazil's interim president Michel Temer held an emergency meeting with his intelligence chief and members of his cabinet late Friday to weigh the next steps after the Nice attack, which killed at least 84 people. As he left the meeting, intelligence chief Sergio Etchegoyen said new security measures would include extra checkpoints, barricades and traffic restrictions. Brazil had already planned to deploy 85,000 police and soldiers to provide security for the Olympics, running August 5-21, which is double the number used in the 2012 London Games. Heightened fears, heightened security Etchegoyen said fears over security at the Rio Games had "gone up a notch" after the attack in Nice, where a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne white truck into a huge crowd gathered to watch the annual Bastille Day fireworks display on Thursday, leaving a gruesome trail of bodies in his wake. "We're trading a little comfort for a lot more security," he told a press conference at the presidential offices. Brazilian intelligence officials met with French counterparts for a briefing on the Nice attack, he said. Defense Minister Raul Jungmann expressed "worries" over the Nice attack. "This worry will translate to more checkpoints, security, staff and procedures being put in place," he told reporters at an air force base near the Rio international airport. Jungmann said Brazil is corresponding with all 106 countries sending representatives to the event's international intelligence center. "As of now, none of these countries have informed us of a potential or concrete threat of a terrorist attack in Brazil," Jungmann said. Brazil is already on alert after the French military intelligence chief said France had been informed of a planned terror attack on its team at the Rio Olympics. In June, Brazil's intelligence service said it had detected Portuguese-language messages linked to the Islamic State group on an online forum. An even more explicit warning came after bloody attacks in Paris in November, when a French jihadist tweeted that Brazil was the "next target." Jungmann said officials will supervise the Olympic delegations based on the security threat they face, with countries including the United States and France labeled as high-risk. "The dozen or so countries in that group will have special accompaniment," Jungmann said. Simulation exercises Security services staged simulation exercises in Rio to test counterterrorism response plans. Another exercise on "confronting external threats" is planned for today at the railway station in Deodoro, one of four Olympic zones in Rio along with Maracana, Copacabana and Barra da Tijuca. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and Olympic organizing committee president Carlos Nuzman met with federal and regional government officials to assess plans, notably discussing a potential increase in street blockades. (AFP)

Brazil to bolster Olympics security to quell concerns after Nice attack

Australian&nbsp;wrestler&nbsp;Vinod Kumar failed a doping test during an Olympic qualification event in Algeria in April and is set to be dropped from the team for the Rio Games.

The&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;Olympic Committee (AOC) said in a statement on Friday both Kumar&#39;s &#39;A&#39; and &#39;B&#39; samples tested positive for an unspecified banned substance following the African/Oceania qualifier in Algiers.

&quot;The&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;Olympic Committee has asked Wrestling Australia to withdraw the nomination of athlete Vinod Kumar for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following an anti-doping violation,&quot; the AOC said.

&quot;The international federation, United World Wrestling, has advised they will reallocate his position in the 66kg division to the next best ranked NOC.&quot;

The 31-year-old, who was born in India but emigrated to Australia in 2010 and first competed for his adopted country in March, has been suspended for four years but has 30 days in which to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He was one of two Greco-Roman&nbsp;wrestlers from Australia to have qualified for the Rio Games. Two other&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;freestyle&nbsp;wrestlers have also qualified. 
 
(Reuters)

The 31-year-old wrestler, who was born in India but emigrated to Australia in 2010, tested positive for an unspecified banned substance

Australian wrestler Vinod Kumar failed a doping test during an Olympic qualification event in Algeria in April and is set to be dropped from the team for the Rio Games. The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said in a statement on Friday both Kumar's 'A' and 'B' samples tested positive for an unspecified banned substance following the African/Oceania qualifier in Algiers. "The Australian Olympic Committee has asked Wrestling Australia to withdraw the nomination of athlete Vinod Kumar for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following an anti-doping violation," the AOC said. "The international federation, United World Wrestling, has advised they will reallocate his position in the 66kg division to the next best ranked NOC." The 31-year-old, who was born in India but emigrated to Australia in 2010 and first competed for his adopted country in March, has been suspended for four years but has 30 days in which to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He was one of two Greco-Roman wrestlers from Australia to have qualified for the Rio Games. Two other Australian freestyle wrestlers have also qualified. (Reuters)

Australia's Vinod Kumar set to miss Rio after failing dope test

Could hunting for a Pokemon get any hotter? Maybe in Rio, so the city about to host the Olympic Games is urging makers of the popular app to come down to Brazil.&nbsp;The app, based on a Nintendo title that debuted 20 years ago, uses GPS and mapping capabilities in smartphones to let players roam the real world to find &quot;PokeStops&quot; stocked with supplies and hunt cartoon monsters to capture and train for battles. 
 
&quot;Hello Nintendo! There are 23 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Everybody&#39;s coming. You should come on down too,&quot; Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Facebook on Wednesday, with the welcoming hashtag #PokemonGoNoBrasil (Pokemon Go in Brazil). 
 
Since its release in the United States, Australia and New Zealand last week, the free Pokemon Go smartphone game that overlays play on the real world has triggered a major craze. 
 
Some, like Paes, think people might enjoy hunting around the city&#39;s landmarks like Copacabana beach.&nbsp;Half a million foreign tourists are expected in Rio for South America&#39;s first Olympics from August 5-21.&nbsp;Ex-supermodel Gisele Bundchen will be in her native Brazil to host the opening ceremony. 
 
(AFP)

'Hello Nintendo! There are 23 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Everybody's coming. You should come on down too', said Mayor Eduardo Paes on Facebook

Could hunting for a Pokemon get any hotter? Maybe in Rio, so the city about to host the Olympic Games is urging makers of the popular app to come down to Brazil. The app, based on a Nintendo title that debuted 20 years ago, uses GPS and mapping capabilities in smartphones to let players roam the real world to find "PokeStops" stocked with supplies and hunt cartoon monsters to capture and train for battles. "Hello Nintendo! There are 23 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Everybody's coming. You should come on down too," Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Facebook on Wednesday, with the welcoming hashtag #PokemonGoNoBrasil (Pokemon Go in Brazil). Since its release in the United States, Australia and New Zealand last week, the free Pokemon Go smartphone game that overlays play on the real world has triggered a major craze. Some, like Paes, think people might enjoy hunting around the city's landmarks like Copacabana beach. Half a million foreign tourists are expected in Rio for South America's first Olympics from August 5-21. Ex-supermodel Gisele Bundchen will be in her native Brazil to host the opening ceremony. (AFP)

Pokemon Go welcome at Rio Olympics, mayor says

India&#39;s Anirban Lahiri has targeted a top 10 finish at next week&#39;s British Open at Royal Troon as the reigning Asian Tour number one gears up for a bumper month of golf that ends with the Rio Olympics in August. 
 
Lahiri, who turned 29 last week, finished tied for 31st in his British Open debut in 2012 and will make his fourth appearance at the championship at the Scottish links from July 14-17. 
 
&quot;The Open is truly a special tournament,&quot; Lahiri told the Asian Tour. &quot;I&#39;ve had a couple of decent outings but feel like I missed out both times on a top-10 finish. 
 
&quot;Hopefully Troon suits my eye and I can play consistently throughout the week. A top-10 or better would be my goal this year. 
 
&quot;I like playing links courses,&quot; Lahiri added. &quot;You have to be creative and strategically efficient to play well on them. Also I am comfortable flighting down my ball-flight, which is a must in windy conditions. 
 
Lahiri, whose tied fifth finish at the PGA Championship last year is the best by an Indian golfer, feels consistency has been lacking from his game in his first full season on the PGA Tour. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s been a very slow and sluggish season. I have been inconsistent and have got off to good starts on a few occasions only to have a disappointing weekend. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s frustrating when your &#39;A&#39; game feels right around the corner but does not show up as frequently as you would like. 
 
&quot;In any case the first season on a new tour is always the toughest and I&#39;m satisfied that I am in a good position to keep my playing privileges for next year.&quot; 
 
While a number of top-ranked male golfers have withdrawn from the Rio Games due to Zika fears, Lahiri, ranked 62nd in the world, is excited at the prospect of representing India at the Aug. 5-21 Games, which will see the sport return to the Olympics after a 112-year gap. 
 
&quot;Managing energy levels and conditioning are a big challenge this season,&quot; Lahiri added. &quot;I will look to skip a few events leading up to the big ones if I feel like I need to take a break. 
 
&quot;My coach will be here in America for two weeks to work on all aspects of the game and sharpen it up for the majors and the Olympics. 
 
&quot;Hopefully I can pace myself just right to peak during the majors and Olympics. That&#39;s the goal.&rdquo; 
 
(Reuters)

Lahiri finished tied for 31st in his British Open debut in 2012 and will make his fourth appearance at the championship

India's Anirban Lahiri has targeted a top 10 finish at next week's British Open at Royal Troon as the reigning Asian Tour number one gears up for a bumper month of golf that ends with the Rio Olympics in August. Lahiri, who turned 29 last week, finished tied for 31st in his British Open debut in 2012 and will make his fourth appearance at the championship at the Scottish links from July 14-17. "The Open is truly a special tournament," Lahiri told the Asian Tour. "I've had a couple of decent outings but feel like I missed out both times on a top-10 finish. "Hopefully Troon suits my eye and I can play consistently throughout the week. A top-10 or better would be my goal this year. "I like playing links courses," Lahiri added. "You have to be creative and strategically efficient to play well on them. Also I am comfortable flighting down my ball-flight, which is a must in windy conditions. Lahiri, whose tied fifth finish at the PGA Championship last year is the best by an Indian golfer, feels consistency has been lacking from his game in his first full season on the PGA Tour. "It's been a very slow and sluggish season. I have been inconsistent and have got off to good starts on a few occasions only to have a disappointing weekend. "It's frustrating when your 'A' game feels right around the corner but does not show up as frequently as you would like. "In any case the first season on a new tour is always the toughest and I'm satisfied that I am in a good position to keep my playing privileges for next year." While a number of top-ranked male golfers have withdrawn from the Rio Games due to Zika fears, Lahiri, ranked 62nd in the world, is excited at the prospect of representing India at the Aug. 5-21 Games, which will see the sport return to the Olympics after a 112-year gap. "Managing energy levels and conditioning are a big challenge this season," Lahiri added. "I will look to skip a few events leading up to the big ones if I feel like I need to take a break. "My coach will be here in America for two weeks to work on all aspects of the game and sharpen it up for the majors and the Olympics. "Hopefully I can pace myself just right to peak during the majors and Olympics. That's the goal.” (Reuters)

India's Anirban Lahiri targets British Open top 10

Zimbabwe&#39;s Brendon de Jonge added his name to the list of golfers withdrawing from the Olympics today, as Spain&#39;s Sergio Garcia confirmed he will compete in Rio. 
 
While world number one Jason Day of Australia and Northern Ireland`s Rory McIlroy are among the golfers skipping the Rio Games because of concerns over the Zika virus, de Jonge said his was a &quot;truly a business decision&quot;. 
 
&quot;The reason for my decision is not my concern about the Zika virus. It is truly a business decision,&quot; De Jonge said in a statement to GolfChannel.com. &quot;It would have been a great honour to play for my country.&quot; 
 
De Jonge is currently 160th on the FedEx Cup points list and needs to finish in the top 125 at the end of the season to keep full playing rights. Competing in the Rio Games from August 5-21 would mean missing two PGA Tour events. 
 
&quot;I am truly disappointed, but my current position on the FedEx Cup points list does not allow me the luxury to skip the John Deere Classic or the Travelers Championship,&quot; the 35-year-old added. 
 
&quot;I must finish in the top 125 to gain entry into our FedEx Cup play-offs. This has to be a priority for me and my family.&quot; 
 
De Jonge`s withdrawal means that Zimbabwe will not be represented in Rio, but Spain&#39;s Garcia said he will take up his place as golf returns to the Games for the first time since 1904. 
 
Garcia, 36, wrote on Twitter: &quot;I know there r some dangers but representing Spain, trying to make golf grow &amp; becoming an Olympian r too important so I`ll be at @Olympics.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Spain's Sergio Garcia said he will take up his place as golf returns to the Games for the first time since 1904

Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge added his name to the list of golfers withdrawing from the Olympics today, as Spain's Sergio Garcia confirmed he will compete in Rio. While world number one Jason Day of Australia and Northern Ireland`s Rory McIlroy are among the golfers skipping the Rio Games because of concerns over the Zika virus, de Jonge said his was a "truly a business decision". "The reason for my decision is not my concern about the Zika virus. It is truly a business decision," De Jonge said in a statement to GolfChannel.com. "It would have been a great honour to play for my country." De Jonge is currently 160th on the FedEx Cup points list and needs to finish in the top 125 at the end of the season to keep full playing rights. Competing in the Rio Games from August 5-21 would mean missing two PGA Tour events. "I am truly disappointed, but my current position on the FedEx Cup points list does not allow me the luxury to skip the John Deere Classic or the Travelers Championship," the 35-year-old added. "I must finish in the top 125 to gain entry into our FedEx Cup play-offs. This has to be a priority for me and my family." De Jonge`s withdrawal means that Zimbabwe will not be represented in Rio, but Spain's Garcia said he will take up his place as golf returns to the Games for the first time since 1904. Garcia, 36, wrote on Twitter: "I know there r some dangers but representing Spain, trying to make golf grow & becoming an Olympian r too important so I`ll be at @Olympics." (AFP)

Golf: De Jonge out, Garcia confirms for Olympics

Athletics&#39; governing body the IAAF and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) have agreed to let the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rule on whether Russian athletes can compete at the Rio Games, CAS said on Monday. 
 
The ROC, the International Association of Athletics Federations and 68 Russian athletes have reached &quot;a specific arbitration agreement&quot; which lets CAS decide whether the IAAF`s blanket ban of the entire Russian track and field team was valid, a CAS statement said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The parties have agreed to an expedited procedure which should conclude on 21 July 2016,&quot; it added.&nbsp; 
 
The IAAF ban followed revelations of massive, state-sponsored doping within Russia`s track and field programme.&nbsp; 
 
The International Olympic Committee gave full backing to the IAAF move, saying it was up to each sport`s governing body to decide who can compete in Rio de Janeiro.&nbsp; 
 
Last month, the IAAF said only individual Russian athletes who could definitively prove they were not tainted by the country&#39;s disgraced system would be cleared for the Games, which start on August 5. 
 
CAS spokeswoman Katy Hogg told AFP that the court will not be making a case by case review of each athlete`s record, but will be assessing the validity of the IAAF&#39;s decision to ban the entire federation.&nbsp; 
 
Russian athletes and political leaders have voiced outrage that the IAAF was seeking to ban track and field stars with no positive drug tests on their record.&nbsp; 
 
The ROC and the 68 athletes have specifically asked the Lausanne-based court to &quot;order that any Russian athlete who is not currently the subject of any period of ineligibility for the commission of an anti-doping rule violation may participate at the 2016 Olympic Games,&quot; assuming they otherwise qualified. 
 
(AFP)

Russian athletes have voiced outrage that the IAAF was looking to ban track and field athletes with no positive drug test

Athletics' governing body the IAAF and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) have agreed to let the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rule on whether Russian athletes can compete at the Rio Games, CAS said on Monday. The ROC, the International Association of Athletics Federations and 68 Russian athletes have reached "a specific arbitration agreement" which lets CAS decide whether the IAAF`s blanket ban of the entire Russian track and field team was valid, a CAS statement said. "The parties have agreed to an expedited procedure which should conclude on 21 July 2016," it added. The IAAF ban followed revelations of massive, state-sponsored doping within Russia`s track and field programme. The International Olympic Committee gave full backing to the IAAF move, saying it was up to each sport`s governing body to decide who can compete in Rio de Janeiro. Last month, the IAAF said only individual Russian athletes who could definitively prove they were not tainted by the country's disgraced system would be cleared for the Games, which start on August 5. CAS spokeswoman Katy Hogg told AFP that the court will not be making a case by case review of each athlete`s record, but will be assessing the validity of the IAAF's decision to ban the entire federation. Russian athletes and political leaders have voiced outrage that the IAAF was seeking to ban track and field stars with no positive drug tests on their record. The ROC and the 68 athletes have specifically asked the Lausanne-based court to "order that any Russian athlete who is not currently the subject of any period of ineligibility for the commission of an anti-doping rule violation may participate at the 2016 Olympic Games," assuming they otherwise qualified. (AFP)

Sports court to rule on Russian athletes competing at Rio by July 21

Usain Bolt confirmed suffering a grade one hamstring tear at Jamaica&#39;s Olympic trials on Friday but the star sprinter expects to secure his place at the Rio Games by proving his fitness at the London Anniversary Games later this month. 
 
Bolt withdrew from the final of the men&#39;s 100 metres after Friday night&#39;s semi-finals as Yohan Blake went on to win the trial in 9.95 seconds. 
 
&quot;After feeling discomfort in my hamstring after the first round last night (Thursday) and then again in the semi-final tonight (Friday) I was examined by the chief doctor of the national championships and diagnosed with a grade 1 tear,&quot; Bolt said on his official Facebook account. 
 
&quot;I have submitted a medical exemption to be excused from the 100m final and the remainder of the National Championships.&quot; 
 
&quot;I will seek treatment immediately and hope to be fit at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio,&quot; the two-time 100m and 200m Olympic gold medallist added. 
 
Bolt had clocked 10.04 seconds to win the semi-final one after a poor start. 
 
His withdrawal does not mean he would miss the Rio Olympics, where Bolt is expected to defend his 100m and 200m titles. 
 
Unlike the United States, where the first three in the trials win Olympic berths, Jamaica&#39;s selection policy allows medical exemptions. 
 
His coach Glen Mills said that efforts were on since Thursday night to get Bolt ready for Friday&#39;s semi-final and final. 
 
&quot;Hamstring injuries are always serious. The fact that he couldn&#39;t run, showed it is serious, but we&#39;ll see what happens between now and (the Olympics),&quot; Mills said at the trackside after another of his charge, Blake, won the trial. 
 
Bolt also posted a photo of receiving treatment on his Instagram page. 
 
(Reuters)

He will be able to prove his fitness for the Rio games at the London Anniversary Games later this month

Usain Bolt confirmed suffering a grade one hamstring tear at Jamaica's Olympic trials on Friday but the star sprinter expects to secure his place at the Rio Games by proving his fitness at the London Anniversary Games later this month. Bolt withdrew from the final of the men's 100 metres after Friday night's semi-finals as Yohan Blake went on to win the trial in 9.95 seconds. "After feeling discomfort in my hamstring after the first round last night (Thursday) and then again in the semi-final tonight (Friday) I was examined by the chief doctor of the national championships and diagnosed with a grade 1 tear," Bolt said on his official Facebook account. "I have submitted a medical exemption to be excused from the 100m final and the remainder of the National Championships." "I will seek treatment immediately and hope to be fit at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio," the two-time 100m and 200m Olympic gold medallist added. Bolt had clocked 10.04 seconds to win the semi-final one after a poor start. His withdrawal does not mean he would miss the Rio Olympics, where Bolt is expected to defend his 100m and 200m titles. Unlike the United States, where the first three in the trials win Olympic berths, Jamaica's selection policy allows medical exemptions. His coach Glen Mills said that efforts were on since Thursday night to get Bolt ready for Friday's semi-final and final. "Hamstring injuries are always serious. The fact that he couldn't run, showed it is serious, but we'll see what happens between now and (the Olympics)," Mills said at the trackside after another of his charge, Blake, won the trial. Bolt also posted a photo of receiving treatment on his Instagram page. (Reuters)

Bolt tears hamstring, drops out of final of Jamaica 100m Olympic trial

Russian doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova&#39;s application to compete as an individual athlete has been accepted, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said today. 
 
The former drugs cheat&#39;s revelations helped to expose the massive doping problem in her country and the middle-distance runner left Russia and went into hiding after disclosing the issue. 
 
Stepanova could now make a comeback as soon as July 6 in the 800m after European Athletics approved her participation at the continental championships in Amsterdam. 
 
The IAAF said its doping review board unanimously accepted Stepanova&#39;s application and that they had received more than 80 formal requests from Russian athletes seeking exceptional eligibility to compete in an individual capacity. 
 
&quot;Stepanova is now eligible to compete in international competitions as an independent neutral athlete,&quot; the IAAF said in a statement. 
 
European Athletics reiterated the IAAF&#39;s views and said it recognised Stepanova&#39;s &quot;exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes&quot; and cleared her to compete in Amsterdam next week. 
 
&quot;If Stepanova takes her place in Amsterdam, she will compete under the European Athletics flag and is scheduled to compete in the first round of the women&#39;s 800m on Wednesday 6 July,&quot; European Athletics said in a statement. 
 
It was still unclear, however, if the middle distance runner would now be eligible to compete at the Rio Olympics, with the IAAF saying it was up to organisers to decide. 
 
&quot;Ms Stepanova&#39;s participation as a neutral athlete in international competition is still subject to acceptance by the organiser of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition,&quot; the IAAF said. 
 
Russian track and field athletes are suspended from competing anywhere after a series of reports, triggered by Stepanova&#39;s revelations, painted a picture of systematic doping in the country and led to the launch of several investigations. 
 
The IAAF has said only some Russian track and field athletes fulfilling exceptional criteria, including repeated drugs testing outside Russia, can take part in the Rio Games under a neutral flag. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, insists any Russian track and field athlete cleared to compete in the Games starting on Aug. 5 would do so under the country&#39;s flag, appeasing Moscow in the run-up to the Rio Games. 
 
More than 65 Russian athletes have since filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, saying they should not be punished along with drugs cheats. 
 
Earlier this month, the IOC said while it was the international federation that was in charge of determining eligibility, it was the Olympic committee of each country that called up the team, overruling the IAAF over the flag issue. 
 
(Reuters)

Stepanova's revelations exposed massive doping in the country, leading to suspension of several Russian athletes

Russian doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova's application to compete as an individual athlete has been accepted, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said today. The former drugs cheat's revelations helped to expose the massive doping problem in her country and the middle-distance runner left Russia and went into hiding after disclosing the issue. Stepanova could now make a comeback as soon as July 6 in the 800m after European Athletics approved her participation at the continental championships in Amsterdam. The IAAF said its doping review board unanimously accepted Stepanova's application and that they had received more than 80 formal requests from Russian athletes seeking exceptional eligibility to compete in an individual capacity. "Stepanova is now eligible to compete in international competitions as an independent neutral athlete," the IAAF said in a statement. European Athletics reiterated the IAAF's views and said it recognised Stepanova's "exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes" and cleared her to compete in Amsterdam next week. "If Stepanova takes her place in Amsterdam, she will compete under the European Athletics flag and is scheduled to compete in the first round of the women's 800m on Wednesday 6 July," European Athletics said in a statement. It was still unclear, however, if the middle distance runner would now be eligible to compete at the Rio Olympics, with the IAAF saying it was up to organisers to decide. "Ms Stepanova's participation as a neutral athlete in international competition is still subject to acceptance by the organiser of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition," the IAAF said. Russian track and field athletes are suspended from competing anywhere after a series of reports, triggered by Stepanova's revelations, painted a picture of systematic doping in the country and led to the launch of several investigations. The IAAF has said only some Russian track and field athletes fulfilling exceptional criteria, including repeated drugs testing outside Russia, can take part in the Rio Games under a neutral flag. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, insists any Russian track and field athlete cleared to compete in the Games starting on Aug. 5 would do so under the country's flag, appeasing Moscow in the run-up to the Rio Games. More than 65 Russian athletes have since filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, saying they should not be punished along with drugs cheats. Earlier this month, the IOC said while it was the international federation that was in charge of determining eligibility, it was the Olympic committee of each country that called up the team, overruling the IAAF over the flag issue. (Reuters)

IAAF: Russian doping whistleblower Stepanova eligible to compete as independent neutral in Rio

LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star lineup of talent Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal. 
 
A flurry of reports ahead of next week&#39;s announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August. 
 
&quot;I could use the rest,&quot; James told the website. 
 
James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest-ever NBA Finals comeback to dethrone the Golden State Warriors, cited the grind of having logged so much court time through six consecutive trips to the finals. 
 
NBA Most Valuable Player and scoring leader Stephen Curry of Golden State said during the finals that he would not play in Rio. 
 
Star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden of Houston also have backed out of consideration, as have San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington forward John Wall, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis of New Orleans. 
 
Joining that group Thursday were Portland&#39;s Damian Lillard, who wants to rehabilitate a plantar fascitis injury; Utah forward Gordon Hayward and San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard. 
 
The pullout brings back memories of 2004, when security worries were a concern in the Athens run-up and many top names withdrew. Those who played could only muster bronze. 
 
The roster to be named next week by USA Basketball is expected to include Oklahoma City star Durant and New York playmaker Anthony plus Indiana&#39;s Paul George, Golden State&#39;s Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Sacramento&#39;s DeMarcus Cousins, Chicagos Jimmy Butler, the Clippers&#39; DeAndre Jordan, and Toronto&#39;s Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Two other available spots could include Cleveland star guard Kyrie Irving, who played a key role alongside James in bringing the first sports title to Cleveland since 1964. 
 
A source told the website a desire to rest his body from the title run to better prepare his bid to defend the crown was his only reason for not playing in Rio, the Zika virus not playing a role in his decision. 
 
James, 31, sparked the US squad of NBA stars to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He is the US team&#39;s all-time scoring leader with 273 points and second in total rebounds with 95. 
 
He was also a reserve on the 2004 US team that settled for bronze at Athens and on the US team that finished third at the 2010 world championships in Japan. 
 
&quot;King&quot; James is one of three men to play on three Olympic basketball teams and in 2012, he became one of the select few to win an NBA crown and Olympic gold in the same year. 
 
(AFP)

Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August

LeBron James reportedly joined an NBA All-Star lineup of talent Thursday that will not play for the United States at the Rio Olympics, while Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant will try to bring the Americans a third consecutive gold medal. A flurry of reports ahead of next week's announcement of the final US roster for Brazil was topped when Cleveland.com said James has told USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will not play in August. "I could use the rest," James told the website. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest-ever NBA Finals comeback to dethrone the Golden State Warriors, cited the grind of having logged so much court time through six consecutive trips to the finals. NBA Most Valuable Player and scoring leader Stephen Curry of Golden State said during the finals that he would not play in Rio. Star guards Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden of Houston also have backed out of consideration, as have San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Washington forward John Wall, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis of New Orleans. Joining that group Thursday were Portland's Damian Lillard, who wants to rehabilitate a plantar fascitis injury; Utah forward Gordon Hayward and San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard. The pullout brings back memories of 2004, when security worries were a concern in the Athens run-up and many top names withdrew. Those who played could only muster bronze. The roster to be named next week by USA Basketball is expected to include Oklahoma City star Durant and New York playmaker Anthony plus Indiana's Paul George, Golden State's Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, Chicagos Jimmy Butler, the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, and Toronto's Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Two other available spots could include Cleveland star guard Kyrie Irving, who played a key role alongside James in bringing the first sports title to Cleveland since 1964. A source told the website a desire to rest his body from the title run to better prepare his bid to defend the crown was his only reason for not playing in Rio, the Zika virus not playing a role in his decision. James, 31, sparked the US squad of NBA stars to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He is the US team's all-time scoring leader with 273 points and second in total rebounds with 95. He was also a reserve on the 2004 US team that settled for bronze at Athens and on the US team that finished third at the 2010 world championships in Japan. "King" James is one of three men to play on three Olympic basketball teams and in 2012, he became one of the select few to win an NBA crown and Olympic gold in the same year. (AFP)

LeBron out, Carmelo in for US team at Rio Olympics

Russia&#39;s weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country. 
 
Five days after its track and field team&#39;s suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia&#39;s weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. 
 
Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport&#39;s governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio. 
 
Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come. 
 
The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters. 
 
Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF&#39;s decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country&#39;s systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport&#39;s federation. 
 
Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend&#39;s youth world championships. 
 
The IWF, stressing its &ldquo;zero tolerance&rdquo; towards dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one). 
 
As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: &ldquo;The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year.&nbsp;Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.&quot; 
 
Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport&#39;s administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment. 
 
The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission. 
 
&quot;Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,&rdquo; said a statement. 
 
The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances. 
 
The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world&rsquo;s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive. 
 
The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio. 
 
The situation as of now indicates that four nations will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each. 
 
(Reuters)

Five days after its track and field team's suspension was upheld, Russia's weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the Games

Russia's weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country. Five days after its track and field team's suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia's weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport's governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio. Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come. The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters. Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF's decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country's systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport's federation. Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend's youth world championships. The IWF, stressing its “zero tolerance” towards dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one). As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: “The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year. Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus." Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport's administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment. The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission. "Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,” said a statement. The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances. The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world’s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive. The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio. The situation as of now indicates that four nations will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each. (Reuters)

Russia faces another Rio ban over dope tests

Rio, News on Rio, stories on Rio, articles on Rio, Rio stories at Wion, Rio news, Rio latest news