AIBA to investigate Russian Olympic Boxers

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) have began an investigation into the drug testing record of the eleven Russian boxers who have qualified for next month’s Olympics in Rio.

Last week the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released the McLaren Report which revealed a widespread state-supported doping regime in Russia. In the findings seven unnamed Russian boxers were implicated.

In response to WADA’s findings, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to implement a full ban on all Russian athletes and instead decreed that each individual sport’s governing body had the power to rule on Russian participation.

With regards to boxing, the AIBA will review the doping records of the Russian athletes who have qualified.

The AIBA have released the following statement in response to the IOC decision:

“We are reviewing and analyzing, on a case by case basis, the anti-doping record of the 11 Russian boxers currently qualified for Rio 2016.”

“This information and the decision of AIBA in respect of the athlete’s eligibility will be submitted to the IOC for confirmation in due course.”

“AIBA remains committed to the WADA Code and will deal with any breach of the AIBA Anti-Doping Regulations.”

The eleven Russian boxers who have qualified for Rio are:
Vasily Yegorov (Light flyweight) – Irish representative Paddy Barnes
Misha Aloyan (Flyweight) – Irish representative Brendan Irvine
Vladimir Nikitin (Bantamweight) – Irish representative Mick Conlan
Adlan Abdurashidov (Lightweight) – Irish representative David Oliver Joyce
Anastasia Belyakova (Lightweight) – Irish representative Katie Taylor
Vitaly Dunaytsev (Light welterweight)
Andrey Zamkovoy (Welterweight) – Irish representative Steven Donnelly
Yaroslava Yakushina (Middleweight)
Artem Chebotarev (Middleweight) – Irish representative Michael O’Reilly
Petr Khamukov (Light heavyweight) – Irish representative Joe Ward
Evgeny Tishchenko (Heavyweight)