Russian boxing team permitted to compete at Rio

In addition to Rio de Janeiro’s ongoing social, political, and environmental issues, the dumpster fire that is the upcoming Olympic Games has also been fueled by the controversy surrounding the discovery of Russia’s state-sponsored doping. For a time, it looked as though the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would issue a blanket ban of the country’s athletes, but the Committee today announced that 270 Russian athletes would be permitted to compete.

That number includes all eleven members of Russia’s boxing team, two women and nine men. Only their women’s flyweight and men’s super heavyweight failed to qualify. Their current lineup, courtesy of World Boxing News, is as follows:

Women:

BELIAKOVA Anastassiia – 60kg

IAKUSHINA Iaroslava – 75kg

Men:

EGOROV Vasilii – 49kg

ALOIAN Misha – 52 kg

NIKITIN Vladimir – 56 kg

ABDURASHIDOV Adlan – 60kg

DUNAYTSEV Vitaly – 64kg

ZAMKOVOY Andrey – 69kg

CHEBOTAREV Artem – 75kg

KHAMUKOV Petr – 81kg

TISHCHENKO Evgeny -91 kg

Russia’s 2012 squad, which included aforementioned bronze medalists Misha Aloian and Andrey Zamkovoy, picked up a total of three bronzes, two silvers, and one gold medal courtesy of Egor Mekhontsev. They also fielded Artur Beterbiev at heavyweight, where he beat Michael Hunter before losing to Oleksandr Usyk in the quarters.

Aloian lost to hot prospect Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Zamkovoy defeated Errol Spence Jr. during their respective runs.

Anyone see another strong performance from the Russians this year?