Two Russian canoeists suspended from international competitions

Russias canoeists Natalya Podolskaya and Alexander Dyachenko, who missed the Rio Olympics, have been barred from all international competitions by the International Canoe Federation, the president of the All-Russia Canoe Federation Yevgeny Arkhipov said on Tuesday.

"The federation has taken a harsh stance only towards two athletes, Podolskaya and Dyachenko," Arkhipov said, reports Tass.

"As for other athletes who did not participate in the Games and were suspended, no such restrictions apply. For instance, Alexey Korovashkov. I do hope they will be able to compete."

Earlier, the International Canoe Federation barred Alexander Dyachenko, Natalya Podolskaya, Yelena Anyushina, Andrey Kraitor and Alexey Korovashkov from the Rio Olympics on the basis of a report delivered by the independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) cancelled the suspension only for Kraitor and Anyushin, thereby letting both athletes participate in the Games.

--IANS

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