And then there were none. The International Association of Athletics Federations on Saturday suspended Russian track and field athlete Darya Klishina, barring her from competing in the Rio Olympics.
The U.S.-based Klishina, 25, had been the sole athlete from Russia’s track team to successfully appeal a ban placed on the entire team in November from competing in the Games following a large-scale, state-sponsored doping scandal in Russia.
But following “new information” about Klishina, the IAAF has suspended the athlete from the games, Reuters reported.
Klishina has immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and is seeking an emergency hearing this weekend, according to a post published to Klishina’s Facebook page on Saturday.
The qualifying rounds for women’s long jump are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, with the final set for Wednesday.
“I am a clean athlete and have proved that already many times and beyond any doubt,” Klishina wrote. “Based in the US for three years now, I have been almost exclusively tested outside of the Anti-Doping system in question. I am falling victim to those who created a system of manipulating our beautiful sport and is guilty of using it for political purposes.”
“I will take every possible effort to protect my clean image as an athlete,” she continued. “At this moment I cannot help but feel betrayed by a system that is not focused on keeping the sport clean and supporting rank-and-file athletes, but rather seeking victories outside sport arenas.”