CAS rejects Russia's weightlifting appeal

All eight Russian weightlifters were suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation last week after the International Olympic Committee left it to the respective sports federations to make rulings.

Representative image.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected Russia's appeal for its weightlifters to be allowed to compete at Rio 2016.

All eight Russian weightlifters were suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) last week after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – which opted against a blanket ban for the nation's competitors amid allegations of state-sponsored doping – left it to the respective sports federations to make rulings.

The IWF said its ruling was based on the fact "the integrity of weightlifting has been seriously damaged on multiple times and levels."

Russia had hoped to have that decision overturned ahead of the Games in Brazil, but the appeal was thrown out by CAS.

"The Russian Weightlifting Federation (RWF) has appealed against its suspension," a CAS statement read.

"A hearing was held this morning (Wednesday) and the panel in charge of it decided to dismiss the application, considering that the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rules allowing the IWF to sanction a national federation which 'by reason of conduct connected with or associated with doping or anti-doping rule violations, brings the sport of weightlifting into disrepute' was valid and was properly applied in the circumstances."

Russia was also unsuccessful with its appeal for 17 rowers to be allowed to compete in Rio, a CAS panel siding with the World Rowing Federation's decision.