Russian pole vaulter to contest Olympic ban

Russian Olympic Chief Aleksander Zhukov said clean athletes will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, adding that their ban was legally “indefensible”.

“We are encouraged that the IAAF recognizes their responsibilities”, Reedie said.

“The worldwide federations and national Olympic committees should undertake all efforts to keep doped athletes away from the Olympic Games Rio 2016”.

In response, the IAAF has issued a statement reiterating Russian athletes, if they pass rigorous doping tests, would have to compete under a neutral flag.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko also wrote to IAAF head Sebastian Coe on Wednesday outlining the progress Russia has made reforming its disgraced athletics association, TASS news agency reported.

A total of 55 athletes had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in those re-tests in recent weeks, none of whom would compete in Rio, the International Olympic Committee said. Some of the athletes clearly stated their doubts about having athletes in Rio named in the meldonium scandal.

“The main thing we should all be happy about is that Yelena Isinbayeva has the world’s best result of the season”.

The Olympic Summit chaired by Bach yesterday ostensibly supported the hardline conclusions of the IAAF, vowing that all Russians and Kenyans competing in any sport in Rio should be subject to special testing ahead of the Games.

Bach dismissed suggestions that Russian track and field stars could compete under a neutral or Olympic flag, as had been suggested when the IAAF extended its ban on Friday.

But the decision regarding the flag has overshadowed this, and given huge confidence to Russian Federation that they will not be punished so strongly after all.

The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee is pressing the World Anti-Doping Agency to explain why it delayed an investigation into allegations of systematic cheating by the Russian Olympic team.

Her comments sent shockwaves through the athletics world and saw some Swedish track and field stars competing in Moscow paint their nails in rainbow colours.

The doping crisis extends beyond Russia’s track and field athletes and beyond Russian Federation itself.

The IOC says all competitors from both Russian Federation and Kenya – also with a recent history of doping – must be screened individually before being allowed to participate in the Games.

Russian athletes – including 16 from track and field – have provided 22 of the positive samples from the Beijing and London retests.

The leaders also called on authorities to pursue sanctions not only against athletes, but against doctors, coaches, officials and other personnel implicated in doping.

“It has to be more transparent”, Bach said. The IOC reiterated its proposal for the creation of an independent agency to carry out drug-testing worldwide.

WADA’s final report is due by July 15.

“Banning clean athletes from the Rio Olympic Games contradicts the values of the Olympic movement and violates the principles of the Olympic Charter”, he said. If it uncovers further widespread, state-backed cheating in Russian Federation, it could push for further action against Russian Federation.