MOSCOW, February 5 (RAPSI) – President of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS), John Coates has stated that Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) looks forward to publication of the reasoned decisions in the high-profile cases of 39 Russian athletes, the CAS press-release reads on Monday.

According to Coates, the Court heard the comments of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach and acknowledges its concerns regarding the CAS ruling that fully upheld appeals of 28 Russian athletes finding no evidence of anti-doping rules violations. At the same time the President of ICAS notes that athletes are entitled to have confidence in judicial processes at all levels.

On February 1, the CAS fully upheld 28 and partially upheld 11 appeals filed by Russian athletes disqualified for life from participating in the Olympic games because of the doping suspicions.

CAS reviewed each of the cases on individual basis and did not find evidence against 28 athletes to be sufficient. At the same the court ruled that 11 athletes did violate anti-doping rule regulation but changed the punishment: instead of being banned for life the sportsmen were prohibited only from participating in the upcoming Olympic games in the Republic of Korea.

Later, Thomas Bach stated that he is disappointed of CAS decision and called for reformation of the court.