Russian judo team uncertain about participation in Rio

The IOC is discussing a possible complete ban for the Russian team for the Olympic Games for all sports. The discussion follows due to the release of Richard McLaren's Independent Commission report into alleged state-sponsored doping during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, as well as in competitions in summer sports. Russia should be banned from all international sporting competition, including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, until they have achieved a "culture change", the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has said.

As far is we know, judo is not among the summer sports linked with doping like sailing, taekwondo and table tennis, and Paralympic sports. Nonetheless a general ban of Russia is not far away.

WADA also recommends that Russian Government officials be denied access to international competitions, including Rio 2016. The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) has declared its opposition to a blanket ban on Russian athletes competing at Rio 2016 after they stressed the need for “individual justice”.

The Russian Judo team consists of 11 athletes including 2012 Olympic Champion Tagir Khaibulaev, who’s always been one of the promotors of Russian sports on behalf of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. Khaibulaev earlier underlined in a letter to the IOC that the clean athletes should participate in Rio and not be a victim of the Russian Winter Sports. The seven Russian men and four women definitely have medal chances. Especially the men in each weight category. Mikhail Pulyaev, named earlier in the meldonium scandal is seeded U66kg. Also Khasan Khalmurzaev is seeded as European Champion U81kg and vice World Champion Kirill Denisov is seeded U90kg. In the women’s divisions Irina Dolgova and Natalia Kuziutina are seeded, which means they will be separated from other strong seeded athletes.

In London Judo was one of the most successful sports for Russia winning three gold medals and silver and bronze in the men’s division.

On Wednesday in a telephone conference of the IOC the first sanctions were postponed until all legal action are taken into consideration.