Rio Olympics: Russia ban upheld after doping report

Russian athletes will not be taking part in the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided to uphold the decision made by the IAAF to ban them following a report into widespread doping allegations.

The ban was imposed originally due to a report which found that doping was taking place at a systemic and state-sponsored level in the country.

68 track and field stars pleaded their innocence to the CAS in the hope of being able to attend the games, but it was ultimately unsuccessful.

It remains to be seen whether the International Olympic Committee will dish out a blanket ban to the entire Russian Olympic team as well as the athletes, and has said it will have made a decision by the middle of next week.

IOC president Thomas Bach is apparently against the idea, but is under mounting pressure to either apply a total ban, or ensure that all Russian competitors are individually examined before competing.

A spokesman for the Kremlin said that it believed the decision was unjust.

“I certainly regret such a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which refers to absolutely all of our athletes. The principle of collective responsibility is hardly acceptable," said Dmitry Peskov.

President of the IAAF Sebastain Coe felt vindication, but not necessarily happiness about the decision.

“While we are thankful that our rules and our power to uphold our rules and the anti-doping code have been supported, this is not a day for triumphant statements. I didn’t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing," Coe said.