Azerbaijani Sports Minister condemns ban on Russian athletes for Paralympics

Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports, Azad Rahimov, believes that it is not right to ban the Russian team’s participation at 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

"As you know, the World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russian athletes from the Paralympics. Their licenses have been distributed among athletes of other countries by means unknown for us," Rahimov said at a press conference in Baku.   "Azerbaijan obtained three licenses. But we haven’t earned these licenses. How can an athlete, who has not earned a license, to take part in the Olympics?" Trend cited him as saying.   He said also that there was no a court decision on this issue.   "I cannot understand how it was possible to distribute these licenses among other countries without a court decision?. In general, how the people with disabilities can be banned from the most important sporting event, considering that they were preparing for it for many years?" he added.