Rio Olympics 2016: Australian trap shooter Laetisha Scanlan says her Russian opponents should be allowed to compete

COMMONWEALTH Gold Medallist Laetisha Scanlan says Russia’s two female trap shooters should be allowed to compete in Rio.

Australian trap Laetisha Scanlan.

COMMONWEALTH Gold Medallist Laetisha Scanlan says Russia’s two female trap shooters should be allowed to compete in Rio.

World no. 6 Scanlan says it would be unfair to ban Russia’s Tatiana Barsuk and Russia’s Elena Tkach because drugs do not assist Olympic shotgun shooters.

Tkach finished second in the 2015 World Cup event in Italy that earned Russia one of their Rio quota places and is one of Scanlan’s direct medal rivals.

But Scanlan says they have worked so hard to qualify for Rio it would be cruel for them to be denied so late.

“Russia has two athletes who are both incredible shots and at the end of the day it would be disappointing if the Russian shooters did get disqualified,’’ he said.

“You want to compete against the best and you want every single person to be there in the event if you do win.

“You want to know you have beaten every one in the world. The fantastic thing about clay target especially is there is no drug you can take that will enhance your performance.

“I know every time going out there that every one is clean. It is a bit different to rifle or pistol shooters where you can take beta blockers to slow your heart down.”

Australian trap Laetisha Scanlan.

As a trap shooter in the rifle discipline 26-year-old Scanlan must hit clay targets flying at any angle and travelling at a velocity of 100km/h.

Nerves of steel and lightning reflexes are required, but artificial help from drugs won’t win her a gold medal.

Scanlan has worked hard in the gym this year to ensure she leaves no stone unturned during the 150-shot qualification period in the Rio sun.

She has been regularly drug-tested as part of an AOC determination to send a clean team of over 400 athletes to Rio.

“I have been drug tested four times already this year,” she said. “For sure I think everyone needs to be tested.”

Russia has qualified 18 shooters for the Rio Olympics after winning a single bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics.

Vasily Mosin won bronze in the double trap and will again contend in Rio.

He will take on Australian world No. 1 James Willett, who is competing in his first Olympics.

An Australian team containing world champion Warren Potent and Willett will try to bounce back from a horror London Olympics.

Potent was the last Australian to win a medal in the Beijing Olympics – a bronze medal in the pistol discipline.

Originally published as Rio Olympics 2016: Australian trap shooter Laetisha Scanlan says her Russian opponents should be allowed to compete