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Three Russian Rowers Barred From Rio Olympics, Imperiling 12 Others


Three Russian Rowers were barred from the Rio Olympics on July 25 because of previous doping bans which automatically disqualified them under International Olympic Committee rules.

The ban on Ivan Podshivalov, Ivan Balandin, and Anastasia Karabelshchikova means that the Russian women's crew boat and one other men's crew may not be able to attend the Olympics because the banned rowers "can't be replaced," Russian Rowing Federation head Veniamin But said.

"Three people were disqualified, and because of these three, 15 people will not travel to the Olympics," he told Interfax.

But told Russian news agency R-Sport that rowers Podshivalov and Karabelshchikova will appeal their ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The International Olympic Committee on July 24 decided against banning all Russian athletes from the games because of widespread doping and cover-ups, but it ruled that those with previous doping violations would be automatically disqualified.

Based on reporting by AP, Interfax, and TASS

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