Russian Paralympic athletes banned from competing in Rio Olympics

The International Paralympic Committee on Sunday banned Russia from participating in the upcoming 2016 Paralympic Games for allegedly violating international doping rules. During his announcement in Rio de Janeiro, International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven put the blame squarely on Russia's government.
Russia has "catastrophically failed its para athletes," Craven said. "Their medals-over-morals mentality disgusts me."
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told Russia's news agency Tass he will appeal the decision and submit a claim to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"We will fight for our Paralympians," he told Tass.
Joining Craven at the news conference was Todd Nicholson, the IPC athletes council chairperson, who said he could "only imagine the disappointment Russian athletes must feel at this decision."
But Nicholson assured athletes that the decision was made in their best interest "to ensure a fair and level playing field for all athletes."
The Paralympic Games start September 7 in Rio.