IPC may retest Sochi 2014 samples after Rio Paralympics

Moscow, Aug 31 (IANS) The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is likely to retest samples from the 2014 Para Games in Sochi after the 2016 Rio Games wrap up next month, IPC spokesman Craig Spence has said.

The Rio Paralympics are scheduled to be held from September 7-18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reports Sputnik.

"It is likely we will retest all the Sochi samples post the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, no exact timeline has yet been set. The IPC is also seeking further advice from the IPC Anti-Doping Committee and WADA on what measures can be taken to address the athletes associated with these samples, including results management. At this moment I do not have confirmation on the laboratory or the number of tests," Pence said on Tuesday.

The doping scandal involving the Russian athletes, simmering since 2014, escalated in July when an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission published a report accusing Russia of having a state-run doping programme and urging IPC to consider a blanket ban on the country.

According to WADA, among the positive doping samples that have allegedly disappeared in the Moscow testing laboratory, 35 were from paralympic athletes.

Last Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the Russian Paralympic Committee's (RPC) appeal against its ban from participating in the upcoming Rio Paralympics.