Bulgaria appeals Olympic ban while Mexico avoids suspension

Bulgarian officials have filed an appeal to overturn the ban that would keep its weightlifters out of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The penalty was handed down after 11 weightlifters from the Balkan nation were found to have committed doping violations.

The country’s weightlifting federation turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday, asking that the ban be stayed and ultimately annulled. A decision is expected in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Mexico appears to have averted an Olympic suspension after convincing officials that its government has not interfered with the work of national sports federations.

The International Olympic Committee has long held that governments should respect the autonomy of their countries’ athletic federations.

Speaking at an IOC executive board meeting in Switzerland, Deputy Director General Pere Miro told the Associated Press that Mexico has been asking federations about how funds are spent, but “there is no case” of interference.