Russia prepares to fund athletes competing as neutral
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-01-15 19:42:16 | Editor: huaxia

This file photo taken on February 7, 2014 in Sochi shows the Olympic and Russian flags being hoisted during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics. (AFP Photo)

MOSCOW, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government will explore ways to fund its athletes participating in international games as neutral competitors, Minister of Sport Pavel Kolobkov was quoted by RIA Novosti agency as saying Saturday.

His remarks came after 19 national anti-doping organizations urged in Dublin, Ireland, Tuesday to ban Russia from competing and hosting any international sports events over its "institutionalized doping violations".

In accordance with the law, only Russia's national teams and candidates to national teams can receive funding from the government.

"But we will find a solution to this issue in case Russian athletes participate in the competitions under the neutral flag," Kolobkov said.

The Sport Minister will meet the president of the All-Russian Athletics Federation, Dmitri Shlyakhtin, next week to discuss the funding issue.

Kolobkov expected experts from the International Association of Athletics Federations to visit Russia soon, after the organization last summer banned Russian athletes from taking part in international competitions, including the Rio Olympics, over doping charges.

Also amid the scandal, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) barred all Russian Paralympic athletes from the Rio Paralympics and the 2018 Winter Games.

According to RIA Novosti, Kolobkov said Saturday he hoped for closer cooperation between the IPC and the Russian Paralympic Committee on the restoration of the country's membership in the organization.

The Russian Sport Minister expressed concerns about the IPC's slow pace in resolving the issue.

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Russia prepares to fund athletes competing as neutral

Source: Xinhua 2017-01-15 19:42:16

This file photo taken on February 7, 2014 in Sochi shows the Olympic and Russian flags being hoisted during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics. (AFP Photo)

MOSCOW, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government will explore ways to fund its athletes participating in international games as neutral competitors, Minister of Sport Pavel Kolobkov was quoted by RIA Novosti agency as saying Saturday.

His remarks came after 19 national anti-doping organizations urged in Dublin, Ireland, Tuesday to ban Russia from competing and hosting any international sports events over its "institutionalized doping violations".

In accordance with the law, only Russia's national teams and candidates to national teams can receive funding from the government.

"But we will find a solution to this issue in case Russian athletes participate in the competitions under the neutral flag," Kolobkov said.

The Sport Minister will meet the president of the All-Russian Athletics Federation, Dmitri Shlyakhtin, next week to discuss the funding issue.

Kolobkov expected experts from the International Association of Athletics Federations to visit Russia soon, after the organization last summer banned Russian athletes from taking part in international competitions, including the Rio Olympics, over doping charges.

Also amid the scandal, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) barred all Russian Paralympic athletes from the Rio Paralympics and the 2018 Winter Games.

According to RIA Novosti, Kolobkov said Saturday he hoped for closer cooperation between the IPC and the Russian Paralympic Committee on the restoration of the country's membership in the organization.

The Russian Sport Minister expressed concerns about the IPC's slow pace in resolving the issue.

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