The CAS rejects appeals of 13 Russians for Pyeongchang

Thirteen Russians have seen their appeals to be invited to compete at the Pyeongchang Games rejected. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport still has to rule on 47 more cases involving Russian athletes.

Olympia Russland Fan Symbolbild Ausschluß
Image: picture-alliance/Chicago Tribune/B. Cassella

Thirteen Russian, including six athletes have failed in their bids to compete at the Winter Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement that it "lacked the jurisdiction" to deal with the applications.

The fate of another 47 Russian athletes, two of whom are now coaches, and their possible participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Games is to be determined on Friday. The CAS said it would announce a decision at 0200 GMT.

The rulings stands to come just nine hours before the opening ceremony in South Korea.

The upcoming rulings relate to two hearings following two sets of appeals, initially from 32 Russia athletes and then from a further 15.

The athletes appealed to the CAS after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to invite them to Pyeongchang as neutrals.

Russian athletes taking part in the Winter Games are to compete under a neutral flag as "Olympic Athletes from Russia" following the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee over evidence of a state-sponsored doping program active during the 2014 Sochi Games.

Several Olympic champions are listed on the two hearings to be decided on Friday, including six-time short track Olympic gold medallist Viktor Ahn, figure skating gold medallist Ksenia Stolbova, and cross-country gold medallist Alexander Legkov.

JS/pfd (Reuters, dpa)