Have y'all seen this? Stolbova, Bukin appear barred from Olympics

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/01/23/265190052

IOC says exclusion does not 'necessarily mean athletes have been doped'

Russian pairs skater Ksenia Stolbova and ice dancer Ivan Bukin have apparently been barred from competing in the 2018 Olympic Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee.

"Apparently" must remain the operative word because the IOC will not release until Saturday a list of which Russian athletes have been cleared to compete next month in PyeongChang, South Korea.

What a day....... UGhhh I cant even anymore....

 

[Sylvia]

Already being discussed here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ongchang-olympics.102516/page-28#post-5260930 (as well as in the Russian news thread)

Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...cs-hockey-players-also-excluded-idUSKBN1FC1BJ

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian figure skater Ksenia Stolbova and ice dancer Ivan Bukin will not be allowed to take part in next month’s Olympic Games, the Russian Figure Skating Federation said on Tuesday, citing a directive from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“The unfounded and absurd decision once again demonstrates the IOC’s inability to eschew external influences on its decision-making,” the federation said in a statement.
The federation is poised to “immediately start fighting to restore a fair attitude toward Russian figure skaters and defend the honor and dignity of our athletes in all possible ways”.
Stolbova and partner Fedor Klimov, who won silver in the pairs and gold in the team event in Sochi, took silver at the European championships in Moscow last week.
Stolbova could not immediately be reached for comment.
Bukin, who competes in ice dance with partner Alexandra Stepanova, won a European bronze medal this month.