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The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) on Tuesday upheld the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ban on Russia competing
at the Sept. 7-18 event.
"It's probably the right choice if they've got evidence that
most of the athletes are on a doping program," the six-times
Olympic champion told British media on Thursday.
"It's a bold step by the IPC and definitely the right one if
they've got evidence.
"Over the last few years I've started to doubt people, which you
never want to do. You look at people's performances and think
'really?' and not 'wow'."
The six-times wheelchair London marathon winner said the
drug-testing system was less stringent outside Britain.
"The doping policy needs to be a bit more thorough throughout
disability sport. Not in the UK, because we're tested
constantly, but throughout championships," the 37-year-old
added.
"We've seen athletes getting caught and if it's happening in the
mainstream, it's got to be happening in the Paralympics. When I
was at the European championships I did four events and got
tested once.
"Maybe it's manpower or funding. A lot of nations are throwing
millions of pounds at medals and we want to deliver on a level
playing field."
(Reporting by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru, editing by Ed
Osmond)
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