Russia Appeals World Olympic Body Suspension

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia's Olympic body on Monday launched an appeal against its suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the sports tribunal said.The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Oct
12 for violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine's membership after it recognized Olympic regional organizations in illegally annexed
Ukrainian territories as its own.CAS said in its appeal to the Swiss-based court that the Russian Olympic Committee "requests that the
Challenged Decision be set aside and that it be reinstated as a [National Olympic Committee] recognized by the IOC, benefitting from all
rights and prerogatives granted by the Olympic Charter."The sport court said the arbitration proceedings had already begun with both parties
exchanging written submissions before a panel of arbitrators was created."At this time, it is not possible to indicate a time frame for the
issuance of the decision," it added.The CAS decision will be final and binding, although the parties can appeal to the Swiss Federal
Tribunal.