Moscow, Aug 14 (IANS) Suspension of Russian long jumper Darya Klishina from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro may not be the last provocation against the country's athletes, Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko said on Sunday.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier confirmed that it received the appeal of Klishina, Russia's sole contender in the athletics event at the Olympics, over her ban from the Rio Games by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), reports Tass.
"I must say, this may be not the last provocation (against Russian athletes)," he said. "Beyond my words, as they have allowed her, insisted she is allowed, initiated her, the International Olympic Committee confirmed the allowing," he added.
"Those are certain provocations, which are made on intention," he continued. "Their target now is the Russian sports, all the rest will wait, and, besides, this is supported in the information form, too."
On June 17, the IAAF Council ruled it was still too early to restore ARAF's (All-Russia Athletics Federation) membership in the international organization subsequently extending the suspension of Russian athletes from all international tournaments, including the 2016 Olympic Games.
The IAAF announced in late June that it had amended the organisation's regulations in order to allow field and track athletes from Russia to submit individual applications for international tournaments.
The world's governing body of athletics, however, emphasised that Russians, admitted to competitions on an individual basis, would be unable to perform as part of the national team and would participate only under a neutral flag.
Last month, IAAF's anti-doping department rejected personal applications from all Russian track and field athletes to participate in international competitions, including the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, except for Klishina.
Later in July, the CAS turned down an appeal from the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 68 national athletes filed against IAAF, thus closing the doors on Russian field and track athletes to the 2016 Games.
IOC President Thomas Bach announced in late July that Russian athletes, with the exception of track and field competitors, were allowed to participate in the Olympics based on individual approval of each respective international sports federation or association.
Finals in women's long jumping are due on August 17. Qualification is scheduled for the day before them.
--IANS
pur/dg
