Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan’s Youth and Sport Minster Azad Rahimov believes 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 at a press conference in Baku on August 31.

“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.

Rahimov went on to say that there was no a court decision on this issue.

“I can not understand how it was possible to distribute these licenses among other countries without a court decision?” asked Rahimov. “In general, how the people with disabilities can be banned from the most important sporting event, considering that they were preparing for it for many years?”

Azerbaijan refuted to accept the licenses of Russian Paralympians before the court decision.

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

Azerbaijan will be represented by 24 para-athletes in six sports in the Rio Paralympics.

The Azerbaijani National Paralympic Committee, representing the country in the international paralympic movement, was established in 1996. The same year, two Azerbaijani paralympans joined the 10th Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, the U.S..

Since then, Azerbaijani athletes could gain 27 medals in total, which include 8 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze medals.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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