Berlin (dpa) – German Olympic supremo Alfons Hoermann wants Russian athletes banned from competing at next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in the 20 sports they are said to have systematically doped.
German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) president Hoermann told Thursday’s edition of the Bild paper that a complete ban of the Russian team could be difficult to enforce from a legal point of view.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday issued a damning report of state-controlled doping in Russia, and WADA said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should consider a ban of all Russian athletes from the August 5-21 Rio Games.
The IOC said it will make a decision on the fate of the Russian team by Tuesday (July 26). A ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport later Thursday on appeals by Russian track and field athletes could be important in the IOC decision-making.
Hoermannn said any Russian ban would have to «watertight from the legal perspective because most of the losers will go to court and try to secure the rights there.»
«I would exclude the 20 sports in which systematic doping in Russia was proven,» he said. «Now it must be clear for eveyone: this far and no further. »
