Russian athletes treat CAS decision as unfair

The decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the non-admission of the Russian track and field athletics team to the Olympic Games is unfair. This was declared by Volgograd athletes Yelena Isinbayeva and Ilya Shkurenyov. The coach of Maria Kuchina from Kabardino-Balkaria believes the decision of the CAS harms the world track and field athletics.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 21, the CAS rejected the claim filed by the Russian Olympic Committee against the IAAF and decided not to admit Russian track and field athletes to participation in the Olympic Games.

Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic pole vault champion, has called the decision of the CAS "a funeral of track and field athletics."

"This is a purely political order. All the arguments are directed against the All-Russia Athletics Federation, and there is nothing concrete against the athletes. It is a pure order," said Yelena Isinbayeva on July 21 as quoted by the "TASS".

Ilya Shkurenyov, a decathlete from Volgograd, has also called the CAS decision unfair, the "V102.ru" reports.

According to Gennady Gabrilyan, the coach of Maria Kuchina, the high jump world champion, the CAS decision will affect the global track and field athletics.

"The CAS decision inflicts just an indescribable damage to the world track and field athletics. This means broken fates. I and Maria are ready to fight. However, it is unclear with whom we are to fight, since the enemy is not seen... It's chaos at the political level," the "R- Sport" quotes Gennady Gabrilyan as stating.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.