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Int'l Swimming Federation supports IOC resolution on Russia

Xinhua, July 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to allow each Federation to assess Russian athletes' eligibility for the Rio 2016, on an individual case basis, is a positive one, said the president of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), Uruguay's Julio Cesar Maglione, on Wednesday.

"I am very happy at the decision taken by the IOC which allows Russian athletes, with no trace of doping, to compete in the Olympic Games and I support this 100 percent," Maglione told local daily El Observador in an interview that was published on Wednesday.

Maglione, who is also the president of the Uruguayan Olympic Committee (COU), said "clean and honest" athletes, whatever country they come from, should participate in the Rio Olympics from Aug. 5 to 21.

"Those that have qualified and haven't tested positive in the drugs test should be there (in Rio) and if we don't let them participate we would be destroying human beings that have dedicated themselves with effort, sacrifice, devotion, vocation and joy throughout their sporting career," said the president.

Maglione, an honorary member of the IOC and head of the Pan American Sporting Organization (Odepa), questioned the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) actions regarding the Russian case because "it exceeded its rights and obligations."

"WADA exists to monitor drugs in sport and to exert a role of scientific advice. However, it is not here to decide whether to eliminate a whole country. This has to be decided by the owner of the Games, which is the IOC," said Maglione who has been FINA president since 2009. Endit