MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The issue of the Russian national athletics team's participation in the games was raised after a number of doping allegations had been made against Russian athletes. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will decide on Russian athletes' participation in the games on June 17.
"We are addressing you as the head of an organization tasked with protecting the rights of athletes clean of doping that does everything to fulfill this responsibility. The right of any athlete who has never violated any existing rules to take part in the Olympic Games is inviolable. We are wholeheartedly asking for your support in upholding this right," the athletes commission said in the letter.
Doping stories have damaged the reputation of Russian sport, and a number of steps must be taken to restore trust, the letter stressed, adding that a lot of work has been done to this end already. All Russian athletes intending to compete at the upcoming games go through at least three additional independent tests, while the national team is under supervision of global anti-doping agencies, according to the letter.
"We are convinced that a ban on Russian athletes from the Olympics can have a truly devastating effect on the whole system of Olympic values and cause irreversible damage to the development of sports in Russia. We ask you and the IOC to treat those athletes whose fates are not at stake humanely and to take a weighed and wise decision," the ROC concluded.
Following the release of the film, WADA launched an investigation into the allegations of doping abuse in Russian sports. In November 2015, WADA's Independent Commission issued a report accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations. The IAAF temporarily suspended the Russian Athletic Federation's membership as a result.
The Russian authorities have promised to carry out a clean-up program to fulfill the WADA demands in order for the country's athletes to be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics.
