London gold medallist among banned Russian canoeists

Omnisports

July 26, 2016 10:35 AM

London 2012 gold medallist Alexander Dyachenko is among five Russian canoeists to be banned from competing at the Rio Games over the doping crisis.

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London 2012 gold medalist Alexander Dyachenko is among five Russian canoeists to be banned from competing at the Rio Games over the doping crisis.

Competitors in swimming and rowing have already been banned from Brazil, as sports begin to determine who can and cannot compete in Brazil after the International Olympic Committee opted against issuing Russians with a blanket ban after two damning independent reports requested by WADA revealed the extent of state-sponsored doping and the means to cover it up.

Dyachenko won gold in the K-2 200 metres four years ago, but he was linked to the "Disappearing Positive Methodology" revealed in the McLaren Report that detailed how positive doping tests at the Moscow WADA laboratory would be hidden.

"This is a bitter blow for the Olympic movement and we are saddened that our sport is implicated," Simon Toulson, International Canoe Federation (ICF) secretary general said.

"We have taken swift action and removed all offending athletes where doping evidence exists.

"The ICF will continue its strong zero-tolerance stance and remove all athletes that contravene its rules in any way.

"We are clear that if you step out of line you won't make the start line."

Omnisports

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