IPC declines to hasten 34 Russian Paralympians’ plea hearing

Moscow, Sep 4 (IANS) The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has turned down the requests of 34 Russian Paralympians to speed up the consideration of their appeals against a decision to ban them from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sports agent Andrei Mitkov has said.

Earlier, sports lawyer Artyom Patsev, who represents the Russians' interests, told TASS that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had received individual appeals of 34 Russian Paralympians on September 1, reports Tass.

The CAS could have speeded up their consideration if the IPC had given its consent for a fast-track procedure. In that case, the appeals could have been considered before the Paralympics kick off in Brazil on September 7. Under a standard procedure, the CAS will not consider the case before the Paralympics close on September 21.

"The IPC has refused to give its consent to a fast-track procedure. It means that none of the Russian Paralympians will compete in Rio. The last opportunity has gone," Andrei Mitkov said on Saturday.

"They motivated their refusal by the fact that the IPC rights are not being observed in full measure. They had the right to refusal and they used that right in accordance with the existing regulations and laws..," Mitkov explained.