Media report on ban for Russian Paralympians ‘pure speculation’: IPC

Geneva, Aug 7 (IANS) Any media report claiming that Russian Paralympic athletes will be banned from competing in the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro is "pure speculation", the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, British newspaper the Guardian said that Russian athletes would be probably banned from the 2016 Paralympics.

"The IPC's decision on the membership status of the Russian Paralympic Committee will not be announced until Sunday August 7 at a press conference in Rio," the IPC said in the statement.

"Any media report claiming otherwise at present is pure speculation."

WADA Independent Commission chaired by McLaren released a report on July 18 on the results of its probe into the accusations of doping and manipulation of tests by Russian athletes and officials at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, Russian Tass news agency reported.

The report claimed that the commission found evidence that Russia's Sports Ministry and the center for the training of Russian national teams and the Federal Security Service had covered up the doping program in Russian sports.

A total of 35 Russian Paralympians were mentioned in the report of McLaren.

Following the report, WADA recommended the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and all international sports federations to ban Russian athletes from all international sports competitions.

The Paralympic Games are scheduled to be held in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro from September 7 through September 18.