22 of 28 Russian rowers banned from Rio Games

Lausanne (AFP) - Rowing's international governing body FISA announced on Tuesday that 22 of 28 Russian rowers have been banned from competing in the Rio Games, based on criteria fixed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over state-sponsored doping in Russia. With just six rowers still eligible, Russia can only compete with one boat in Brazil, a men's coxless four, FISA said, after the country had originally qualified five boats. This follows FISA's announcement on Monday that three Russian rowers -- Ivan Balandin, Anastasia Karabelshchikova and Ivan Podshivalov -- would be barred from competing in Rio. Podshivalov and Karabelshchikova are not eligible because of past doping offences for which they served suspensions in 2007 and 2008, FISA said.http://sports.yahoo.com/news/22-28-russian-rowers-banned-rio-games-federation-180801090--oly.html;_ylt=AwrBT83Yp5dX7AMAKcBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyaHZjYzhtBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjE4NzlfMQRzZWMDc2M-