We are hearing that the Head Coach of the Canadian Para-Nordic Ski Team has concerns about competing against Russian athletes at an World Cup event in Can
The Head Coach of the Canadian Para-Nordic ski team has some concerns about competing against Russian athletes at a World Cup event this month in Canmore.
Russia is embroiled in state-sponsored doping scandal that saw that country’s Paralympic team banned from the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Despite the ban, Russian skiers — namely those who train outside the country and have passed stringent drug testing, using kits as you might find on test country and similar providers — are being allowed to compete as independents in this year’s World Cup circuit later this month.
As we are all hearing, Russia is currently in a state-sponsored doping scandal where it was reported that their Country’s Paralympic team was banned from the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The first of three world Cup events are taking place at the Canmore Nordic Centre that will see this event serve as a qualifier for the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang South Korea.
The event will see (possibly) 60 Russian athletes compete and currently Robin McKeever, Head Coach of the Canadian Para-Nordic team tells the media that it’s unfair to allow the Russians to compete given the uncertainty that surrounds them.
His (McKeever) brother Brian competes for the Canadian team as a blind skier, winning three (3) Gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Games and mentions that until an athlete is proven to be competing dirty, they should be allowed in.
He mentions “There’s a process to this and we have to respect that process and right now they are not banned so they have every right to compete. I don’t really think about it too much. I just go to my training, do my racing and hope that it’s good enough.”
The second World Cup event goes January 20-28, 2018 in Germany with the third being held in Finland taking place from February 2-10. 2018.
The 2018 Paralympic Games run from March 9-18 in PyeongChang.
While the competition has yet to start, the politics are underway and don’t expect this to end with a happy result one way or the other!!
