Russian athletes disqualified from Rio 2016 Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee, or IPC, announced on Thursday that it will not allow Russian athletes to participate individually as neutral in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has already rejected the request of the Russian Paralympic Committee for the IPC to allow individual participation of Russian athletes who can show that they are “clean”.

Xavier Gonzalez, CEO of IPC, said the body “has considerable sympathy for all of the Russian athletes who are now unable to participate in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Tragically however, the Russian authorities have denied their athletes this chance through their actions.”

“Once the Russian Paralympic Committee demonstrates that it will be able in the future to enforce the IPC AntiDoping Code vigorously and effectively, without interference, the IPC will be glad to welcome Russian athletes back to international competition,” he added.