(ATR) Russian athletes barred from the Rio 2016 Games back Vladimir Putin's handling of the doping ban with a track and field meet in Moscow.
The All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF) organized the athletics event dubbed Stars 2016 on Thursday, July 28.
The meet brought out 150 competitors including current world champion hurdler Sergei Shubenkov, 2012 Olympic high jump champion Ivan Ukhov and high jumper Maria Kuchina.
"It should show that no matter how much pressure they put on us we are ready to fight and run further," said Pavel Ivashko, winner of the 400m race.
Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva - who recently started a public campaign in order to have her ban from the Olympics lifted but was later denied - addressed the crowd before the meet.
"We ran into such injustice when they took away the Olympic Games from us, but, as I said yesterday, it will only make us stronger," Isinbayeva said in a statement.
A state poll on Thursday found 90 percent of Russians support President Vladimir Putin’s handling of the doping scandal.
Russian taekwondo fighters, weightlifters, badminton players and golfers are still awaiting a decision on whether they will be participating in this year’s Games.
The Rio 2016 Olympics begin Aug. 5.
Written by Courtney Colquitt
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