Russian Speed Skater Declines PyeongChang Invitation

(ATR) Speed skater Olga Graf is the first Russian athlete to publicly decline the chance to compete in the PyeongChang Olympics as part of a neutral team.

Graf, who won bronze medals in the 3000 meters and team pursuit events at the 2014 Sochi Games, explained her decision in a Facebook post, as quoted by Reuters.

"I‘m glad that the IOC has recognized me as a clean athlete, which is what I am. I regret that more than half the national speed skating team did not receive invitations to the Olympics, including my partners in the team pursuit, who I don’t doubt are clean.

"Having been deprived of the chance to compete for the Olympic podium in the team pursuit, I do not accept the IOC invitation for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang."

Russian Skating Union President Alexei Kravtsov backed Graf’s decision in comments to RIA Novosti, saying "This is Olga’s choice".

Graf, 34, was one of only three female speed skaters on the list of 169 cleared Russian athletes who are being allowed to compete under the neutral "Olympic Athletes from Russia" flag.

The IOC decided last month to ban Russia from competing in PyeongChang as part of a wide range of sanctions against the country’s "systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system".

It is possible that there could be additional Russian athletes in PyeongChang. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it expects to rule this week in the cases of 39 Russian athletes who are appealing IOC bans after being found guilty of doping at Sochi.

Written by Gerard Farek

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