Russia: Paralympics ban over doping is grave human rights abuse

[August 08, 2016]    MOSCOW (Reuters) - The head of the Russian Paralympic Committee said on Monday a decision to bar Russian athletes from taking part in next month's Rio Paralympics over doping allegations was a grave human rights abuse.

Vladimir Lukin, president of the committee, told a news conference in Moscow most Russian paralympians were not guilty of doping and that he was ready to prove that the team had fulfilled all its anti-doping obligations.

Vladimir Lukin, president of the Russian Paralympic Committee, speaks during a news conference after Russia was barred on August 7, 2016 from taking part in next month's Rio Paralympics, in Moscow, Russia, August 8, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

"The overwhelming majority of sportspeople who were prevented from taking part in the Games were absolutely clean sportspeople," said Lukin, saying he was ready to provide evidence that the Russian team had run a tight anti-doping program.

Lukin was speaking after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Philip Craven said on Sunday that Russia's Paralympians were part of a broken system overseen by the Russian government and suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee ahead of the Sept. 7-18 Games.

(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova/Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alexander Winning)

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