Baku refuses to accept banned Russian para-athletes’ licenses

7 September 2016 16:55 (UTC+04:00)

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By Laman Ismayilova

Baku has officially refused from the licenses of Russian Paralympic athletes, who were banned to take part in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports reported on September 7.

Earlier, Azerbaijan’s Minister Azad Rahimov said that the decision to ban Russian team’s participation at 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro is not right.

“As we know, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russian athletes from Paralympic Games. Their licenses have been distributed among athletes of other countries by means unknown for us,” said Rahimov.

“Azerbaijan received three licenses. But we haven’t earned these licenses,” Rahimov noted. “How can an athlete, who has not earned a license, to take part in the Olympics?”

Following the rejection of Russia's appeal against the blanket ban imposed by Paralympics officials, the country’s 267 licenses were distributed among other countries- participants of the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Earlier, the International Paralympic Committee sent an official letter to Azerbaijan informing about three licenses that Azerbaijani para-athletes received from them.

The 2016 Summer Paralympics will be held on September 7-18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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