PARIS– Three Brazilian track and field athletes won a court decision Friday allowing them to compete in the Paris Olympics despite the South American country substandard anti-doping program.
Shot putter Lívia Avancini, walker Max Batista and sprinter Hygor Bezerra were blocked by the Athletics Integrity Unit for failing to comply with a stricter level of “no notice” anti-doping controls required ahead of the Paris Games.
The three athletes appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose special Olympic court in Paris upheld their legal challenges in an expedited decision.
The CAS panel of three judges ruled that the athletes met the “truly exceptional circumstances” exemption allowed under World Athletics rules.
Brazil was among four countries subject to special measures by the AIU in March. Ecuador, Peru and Portugal are the others.
The AIU said non-elite athletes from the four countries could only compete in Paris if they gave at least three unannounced samples in training in the 10 months to July.
The Monaco-based investigators said the policy would protect the Olympics “from athletes who quickly emerge in the rankings or produce surprising performances, or where the depth of talent means results are unpredictable.”
The athletics events at the Paris Olympics begin next Thursday.
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