The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned six Russian female ice hockey players from the Olympics for life over doping allegations linked to the 2014 Sochi Games, the ruling body said on Tuesday.

The decision came a week after the IOC banned Russia from next year`s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics for what it called &quot;unprecedented systematic manipulation&quot; of the anti-doping system.&nbsp;

The IOC, however, left the door open for Russian athletes with a clean history of non-doping to be invited to compete in Pyeongchang as neutrals.&nbsp;

The banned ice hockey players are Inna Dyubanok, Ekaterina Lebedeva, Ekaterina Pashkevich, Anna Shibanova, Ekaterina Smolentseva and Galina Skiba.&nbsp;

&quot;The Russian Team is disqualified from the Women`s Ice Hockey Event and the International Ice Hockey Federation is requested to modify the results of the event accordingly,&quot; the IOC said in a statement on its website.&nbsp;

The Russian women`s hockey team finished sixth at the 2014 Sochi Games.&nbsp;

The IOC decision increased the number of Russian athletes banned for life from the Olympics over alleged doping violations at the Sochi Games to more than 30.&nbsp;

The IOC did not disclose the nature of the hockey players` alleged doping violations. It also said it had closed a case against a seventh unnamed athlete without sanction.&nbsp;

Russia`s Olympic Committee agreed earlier on Tuesday to support the athletes who choose to compete in next year`s Winter Games in South Korea as neutrals.

The decision came a week after IOC banned Russia from next year`s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned six Russian female ice hockey players from the Olympics for life over doping allegations linked to the 2014 Sochi Games, the ruling body said on Tuesday. The decision came a week after the IOC banned Russia from next year`s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics for what it called "unprecedented systematic manipulation" of the anti-doping system. The IOC, however, left the door open for Russian athletes with a clean history of non-doping to be invited to compete in Pyeongchang as neutrals. The banned ice hockey players are Inna Dyubanok, Ekaterina Lebedeva, Ekaterina Pashkevich, Anna Shibanova, Ekaterina Smolentseva and Galina Skiba. "The Russian Team is disqualified from the Women`s Ice Hockey Event and the International Ice Hockey Federation is requested to modify the results of the event accordingly," the IOC said in a statement on its website. The Russian women`s hockey team finished sixth at the 2014 Sochi Games. The IOC decision increased the number of Russian athletes banned for life from the Olympics over alleged doping violations at the Sochi Games to more than 30. The IOC did not disclose the nature of the hockey players` alleged doping violations. It also said it had closed a case against a seventh unnamed athlete without sanction. Russia`s Olympic Committee agreed earlier on Tuesday to support the athletes who choose to compete in next year`s Winter Games in South Korea as neutrals.

IOC bans six Russian women hockey players for life over doping

The International Olympic Committee Tuesday banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Games over its state-orchestrated doping programme, however, Russian athletes not found guilty of doping will be allowed to compete under the Olympic flag. IOC president Thomas Bach accused Russia of &quot;perpetrating an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport&quot;. Reportedly, the ban&nbsp;is believed to be one of the toughest sanction ever levelled by the IOC for drug cheating. The ban came 65 days ahead of the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.&nbsp;

The IOC Russia ban was announced after the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and two subsequent IOC investigations confirmed Russian athletes to have participated in a drug-cheating programme which peaked during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Evidence also pointed at the alleged involvement of senior government officials. Russia&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who served as the country&#39;s sports minister during the Sochi Games has also been banned for life. Mutko currently heads the organising committee for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia. FIFA, in an official statement, said that it has taken note of IOC&#39;s decision on Mutko and stated that &quot;no impact on the preparations&quot; has taken place for the 2018 Russia World Cup. The IOC also suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and its chief Alexander Zhukov. &nbsp;Zhukov said he &quot;apologised&quot; to the IOC on Tuesday for the &quot;anti-doping violations&quot; committed in his country in recent years.&nbsp;

Reportedly, the IOC&nbsp;had an option to take more severe measures against Russian, including a blanket ban that was applied to apartheid-era South Africa from 1964 to 1988. The IOC moderate approach has now enabled some Russian athletes to compete in the Games after confirming to and coming clean out of a stringent testing programme and will participate under the name &quot;Olympic Athlete from Russia&quot; and shall compete under a neutral flag. &quot;No Russian athlete with a previous doping violation will be allowed to compete and no official who had a leadership role at Sochi 2014 will be invited to Pyeongchang,&quot; noted an AFP report. Russia&#39;s flag will not fly at any 2018 ceremony, the IOC said.

Mutko, on the other hand, has said the allegations were an attempt &quot;to create an image of an axis of evil&quot; against his country while Putin has warned that a Russia ban would cause &quot;serious harm to the Olympic movement&quot;. He said forcing Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag would amount to a national &quot;humiliation&quot;.

For Grigory Rodchenkov, the former Russian laboratory chief and whistleblower who lifted the lid on the cheating scheme, the IOC`s action was a needed step to clean up the Olympic movement.

(With inputs from AFP)

 
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The ban was announced after subsequent investigations confirmed Russian athletes had participated in a state-sponsored drug-cheating programme

The International Olympic Committee Tuesday banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Games over its state-orchestrated doping programme, however, Russian athletes not found guilty of doping will be allowed to compete under the Olympic flag. IOC president Thomas Bach accused Russia of "perpetrating an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport". Reportedly, the ban is believed to be one of the toughest sanction ever levelled by the IOC for drug cheating. The ban came 65 days ahead of the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOC Russia ban was announced after the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and two subsequent IOC investigations confirmed Russian athletes to have participated in a drug-cheating programme which peaked during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Evidence also pointed at the alleged involvement of senior government officials. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who served as the country's sports minister during the Sochi Games has also been banned for life. Mutko currently heads the organising committee for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia. FIFA, in an official statement, said that it has taken note of IOC's decision on Mutko and stated that "no impact on the preparations" has taken place for the 2018 Russia World Cup. The IOC also suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and its chief Alexander Zhukov. Zhukov said he "apologised" to the IOC on Tuesday for the "anti-doping violations" committed in his country in recent years. Reportedly, the IOC had an option to take more severe measures against Russian, including a blanket ban that was applied to apartheid-era South Africa from 1964 to 1988. The IOC moderate approach has now enabled some Russian athletes to compete in the Games after confirming to and coming clean out of a stringent testing programme and will participate under the name "Olympic Athlete from Russia" and shall compete under a neutral flag. "No Russian athlete with a previous doping violation will be allowed to compete and no official who had a leadership role at Sochi 2014 will be invited to Pyeongchang," noted an AFP report. Russia's flag will not fly at any 2018 ceremony, the IOC said. Mutko, on the other hand, has said the allegations were an attempt "to create an image of an axis of evil" against his country while Putin has warned that a Russia ban would cause "serious harm to the Olympic movement". He said forcing Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag would amount to a national "humiliation". For Grigory Rodchenkov, the former Russian laboratory chief and whistleblower who lifted the lid on the cheating scheme, the IOC`s action was a needed step to clean up the Olympic movement. (With inputs from AFP)

Russia banned from 2018 Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday it had banned two Russian bobsledders, including double-gold-winning Alexander Zubkov, and two speed skaters for life from the Olympics over doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The other athletes banned include bobsledder Olga Stulneva, as well as speed skaters Olga Fatkulina, who won silver in Sochi, and Alexander Rumyantsev.

The IOC said it had voided the athletes&#39; results from Sochi, stripping Zubkov -- now president of Russia&#39;s bobsleigh federation -- and Fatkulina of their Olympic medals. 
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The International Olympic Committee said it had banned two Russian bobsledders, including double-gold-winning Alexander Zubkov, and two speed skaters for life from the Olympics over doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday it had banned two Russian bobsledders, including double-gold-winning Alexander Zubkov, and two speed skaters for life from the Olympics over doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games. The other athletes banned include bobsledder Olga Stulneva, as well as speed skaters Olga Fatkulina, who won silver in Sochi, and Alexander Rumyantsev. The IOC said it had voided the athletes' results from Sochi, stripping Zubkov -- now president of Russia's bobsleigh federation -- and Fatkulina of their Olympic medals.

IOC bans Russian bobsledders, speed skaters for Sochi doping

The International Olympic Committee on Friday provisionally suspended Brazil&#39;s national Olympic body over the alleged involvement of its head Carlos Nuzman in a vote-buying scandal.

The IOC also suspended Nuzman from all his positions, stripped him of his honorary membership and removed him from the coordination committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nuzman was arrested in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday as part of a probe into allegations he helped buy votes from the IOC to secure Rio&#39;s hosting of the 2016 Games.

The IOC said that &quot;to protect the interests of the Brazilian athletes&quot;, the decision had no bearing on the country&#39;s teams.

&quot;Therefore, the IOC will accept a Brazilian Olympic Team in the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018,&quot; it said in a statement.

Also&nbsp;watch:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/former-british-olympic-skier-breaks-world-record-for-towed-speed-skiing-5682" target="_blank">Former British Olympic skier breaks world record for towed speed skiing</a>

The Brazilian Olympic Committee was suspended over the alleged involvement of its head Carlos Nuzman in a vote-buying scandal

The International Olympic Committee on Friday provisionally suspended Brazil's national Olympic body over the alleged involvement of its head Carlos Nuzman in a vote-buying scandal. The IOC also suspended Nuzman from all his positions, stripped him of his honorary membership and removed him from the coordination committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Nuzman was arrested in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday as part of a probe into allegations he helped buy votes from the IOC to secure Rio's hosting of the 2016 Games. The IOC said that "to protect the interests of the Brazilian athletes", the decision had no bearing on the country's teams. "Therefore, the IOC will accept a Brazilian Olympic Team in the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018," it said in a statement. Also watch: Former British Olympic skier breaks world record for towed speed skiing

Olympics: IOC suspends Brazilian national Olympic body

Paris is set to host the 2024 Olympic Games after the last candidate Los Angeles announced today it was pulling out of the race. The International Olympic Committee, however, is yet to officially announce the host of the 2024 Olympics.

French President Emmanuel Macron cautiously welcomed Los Angeles&#39; decision to pull out, hailing it as a &quot;very important step&quot; on the road to hosting the Games.

&quot;France notes the decision of Los Angeles to put forward its candidature for 2028 and to reach an agreement with the IOC and Paris,&quot; a statement from Macron&#39;s office said.

The French capital had insisted it wanted to host the Olympics&nbsp;in 2024, on the 100th anniversary of the city&#39;s 1924 Olympics which led to Los Angeles softening its stance and consider hosting the 2028 Games.

Paris had hosted the Olympics twice earlier in 1900 and 1924 but had failed thrice to host it in 1992, 2008 and 2012.

&nbsp;People in the streets of Paris have already started celebrating &quot;victory&quot; even as the French media declared they had &quot;won&quot; this time.

The International Olympic Committee is likely to announce France as the host of the 2024 Olympics at its meeting in Lima in September.

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President Emmanuel Macron cautiously welcomed Los Angeles' decision to pull out, hailing it as a "very important step" on the road to hosting the Games

Paris is set to host the 2024 Olympic Games after the last candidate Los Angeles announced today it was pulling out of the race. The International Olympic Committee, however, is yet to officially announce the host of the 2024 Olympics. French President Emmanuel Macron cautiously welcomed Los Angeles' decision to pull out, hailing it as a "very important step" on the road to hosting the Games. "France notes the decision of Los Angeles to put forward its candidature for 2028 and to reach an agreement with the IOC and Paris," a statement from Macron's office said. The French capital had insisted it wanted to host the Olympics in 2024, on the 100th anniversary of the city's 1924 Olympics which led to Los Angeles softening its stance and consider hosting the 2028 Games. Paris had hosted the Olympics twice earlier in 1900 and 1924 but had failed thrice to host it in 1992, 2008 and 2012. People in the streets of Paris have already started celebrating "victory" even as the French media declared they had "won" this time. The International Olympic Committee is likely to announce France as the host of the 2024 Olympics at its meeting in Lima in September.

Paris likely to host 2024 Olympics after Los Angeles pulls out

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba has become a major sponsor of the Olympics after signing a deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that runs until 2028, the two parties said on Thursday (January 19).

Alibaba, which becomes the official e-commerce and cloud services partner, joins 12 other companies - including Coca-Cola and McDonald&#39;s as top Olympic sponsors.

No financial details were disclosed. IOC sources have previously told Reuters that major sponsors pay about $100 million per four-year cycle, which includes one summer and one winter games.

The Alibaba deal comes as Asia prepares to host three consecutive Games with South Korea&#39;s Pyeongchang staging the 2018 winter Games, Tokyo the 2020 summer Olympics and Beijing the 2022 winter Games.

&quot;We are indeed very happy today here to announce a historic strategic partnership in the digital world which will transform the global Olympic movement. According to our roadmap for the future of the Olympic games, and the Olympic movement , the Olympic agenda 2020,&quot; said IOC President Thomas Bach. 
 
(Reuters)

The e-commerce company has signed a pact with International Olympic Committee to become its worldwide partner until 2028

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba has become a major sponsor of the Olympics after signing a deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that runs until 2028, the two parties said on Thursday (January 19). Alibaba, which becomes the official e-commerce and cloud services partner, joins 12 other companies - including Coca-Cola and McDonald's as top Olympic sponsors. No financial details were disclosed. IOC sources have previously told Reuters that major sponsors pay about $100 million per four-year cycle, which includes one summer and one winter games. The Alibaba deal comes as Asia prepares to host three consecutive Games with South Korea's Pyeongchang staging the 2018 winter Games, Tokyo the 2020 summer Olympics and Beijing the 2022 winter Games. "We are indeed very happy today here to announce a historic strategic partnership in the digital world which will transform the global Olympic movement. According to our roadmap for the future of the Olympic games, and the Olympic movement , the Olympic agenda 2020," said IOC President Thomas Bach. (Reuters)

China's Alibaba becomes major Olympics sponsor

Russian officials for the first time have admitted to mass doping in the country&#39;s sports system but dismissed suggestions that the &quot;institutional conspiracy&quot; was state-sponsored, the New York Times reported.

The final part of the World Anti-Doping Agency&#39;s independent report into doping in Russia this month provided exhaustive evidence of an elaborate doping scheme but officials at the time denied it was a state-backed programme.

The report found more than 1,000 Russian competitors in more than 30 sports were involved in a conspiracy to conceal positive drug tests over a period of five years.

&quot;It was an institutional conspiracy,&quot; Anna Antseliovich, the acting director general of Russia&#39;s anti-doping agency, told the New York Times, but added that top officials were not involved.

More than 100 Russian athletes were barred from competing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this year after the International Olympic Committee set criteria for Russian athletes to meet, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events.

&quot;From my point of view, as a former minister of sport, president of the Olympic committee &mdash; we made a lot of mistakes,&quot; Vitaly Smirnov, head of a new commission created to combat doping, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.

&quot;We have to find those reasons why young sportsmen are taking doping, why they agree to be doped.&quot;

(Reuters)

World Anti-Doping Agency's report on doping in Russia has come up with exhaustive evidence of an elaborate doping scheme

Russian officials for the first time have admitted to mass doping in the country's sports system but dismissed suggestions that the "institutional conspiracy" was state-sponsored, the New York Times reported. The final part of the World Anti-Doping Agency's independent report into doping in Russia this month provided exhaustive evidence of an elaborate doping scheme but officials at the time denied it was a state-backed programme. The report found more than 1,000 Russian competitors in more than 30 sports were involved in a conspiracy to conceal positive drug tests over a period of five years. "It was an institutional conspiracy," Anna Antseliovich, the acting director general of Russia's anti-doping agency, told the New York Times, but added that top officials were not involved. More than 100 Russian athletes were barred from competing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this year after the International Olympic Committee set criteria for Russian athletes to meet, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events. "From my point of view, as a former minister of sport, president of the Olympic committee — we made a lot of mistakes," Vitaly Smirnov, head of a new commission created to combat doping, was quoted as saying by the New York Times. "We have to find those reasons why young sportsmen are taking doping, why they agree to be doped." (Reuters)

Russian officials admit mass doping in sports, refuse state-sponsored conspiracy: NYT

The Rio Olympics anti-doping programme was successful despite a lack of trained staff and resources, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday following a World Anti Doping Agency report noting &quot;serious failings&quot; in the process.

Doping was at top of the agenda well before the first South American Olympics in August after dozens of Russian athletes were banned following revelations of a state-supported doping system in the country.

The IOC said the overall programme had been successful, despite the lack of trained staff and inadequate testing outlined in the WADA international observers (IO) report.

&quot;The anti-doping programme in Rio de Janeiro had to overcome some challenges too, such as a lack of resources and trained volunteers/staff,&quot; the IOC said in a statement.

&quot;This was managed successfully thanks to the dedication and expertise of Rio 2016 and international staff and volunteers.&quot;

The 55-page WADA report by its IO team had said on Thursday several athletes earmarked for testing &quot;simply could not be found&quot; while there was &quot;little or no in-competition blood testing in many high-risk sports&quot; at the Games.

Many of the problems stemmed from staffing issues, resource constraints and other logistical difficulties, and there was also &#39;an apparent breakdown in the transfer of knowledge from previous Games&#39;,&quot; WADA said.

&quot;Ultimately, many athletes targeted for testing in the Athletes Village simply could not be found and the mission had to be aborted,&quot; the IOs said. &quot;On some days, up to 50 per cent of planned target tests were aborted.&quot;

The IOC said the programme had nevertheless delivered.

&quot;The IO report shows that it was a successful Olympic Games with a successful anti-doping programme,&quot; the IOC&#39;s medical chief Richard Budgett said.

&quot;The integrity of the programme was ensured despite some challenges the organising committee had to overcome. I would like to thank all the involved experts, staff and volunteers.&quot;

The Rio Games were hit by Brazil&#39;s biggest economic crisis in more than 80 years with organisers running out of cash and having to cut back on every level of the organisations.

The country&#39;s doping lab was also stripped of its credentials just two months ahead of the Games before being re-approved shortly before the opening ceremony.

During the Games, IOs had privately expressed concerns that a lack of resources and inadequate training of support staff and chaperones, employed to notify athletes of drug tests, were compromising drugs testing in some areas.

A summit of national doping agencies on Thursday called for all anti-doping functions to be freed from the influence of sporting bodies and organisers of events so the confidence of athletes in the system could be restored.

(Reuters)

The IOC said the overall programme had been successful, despite the lack of trained staff and inadequate testing outlined in the WADA report

The Rio Olympics anti-doping programme was successful despite a lack of trained staff and resources, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday following a World Anti Doping Agency report noting "serious failings" in the process. Doping was at top of the agenda well before the first South American Olympics in August after dozens of Russian athletes were banned following revelations of a state-supported doping system in the country. The IOC said the overall programme had been successful, despite the lack of trained staff and inadequate testing outlined in the WADA international observers (IO) report. "The anti-doping programme in Rio de Janeiro had to overcome some challenges too, such as a lack of resources and trained volunteers/staff," the IOC said in a statement. "This was managed successfully thanks to the dedication and expertise of Rio 2016 and international staff and volunteers." The 55-page WADA report by its IO team had said on Thursday several athletes earmarked for testing "simply could not be found" while there was "little or no in-competition blood testing in many high-risk sports" at the Games. Many of the problems stemmed from staffing issues, resource constraints and other logistical difficulties, and there was also 'an apparent breakdown in the transfer of knowledge from previous Games'," WADA said. "Ultimately, many athletes targeted for testing in the Athletes Village simply could not be found and the mission had to be aborted," the IOs said. "On some days, up to 50 per cent of planned target tests were aborted." The IOC said the programme had nevertheless delivered. "The IO report shows that it was a successful Olympic Games with a successful anti-doping programme," the IOC's medical chief Richard Budgett said. "The integrity of the programme was ensured despite some challenges the organising committee had to overcome. I would like to thank all the involved experts, staff and volunteers." The Rio Games were hit by Brazil's biggest economic crisis in more than 80 years with organisers running out of cash and having to cut back on every level of the organisations. The country's doping lab was also stripped of its credentials just two months ahead of the Games before being re-approved shortly before the opening ceremony. During the Games, IOs had privately expressed concerns that a lack of resources and inadequate training of support staff and chaperones, employed to notify athletes of drug tests, were compromising drugs testing in some areas. A summit of national doping agencies on Thursday called for all anti-doping functions to be freed from the influence of sporting bodies and organisers of events so the confidence of athletes in the system could be restored. (Reuters)

IOC denies WADA report, anti-doping programme success despite bottlenecks

An International Olympic Committee official said IOC met and provided information to Brazilian authorities investigating a case of ticket scalping during the Rio Olympics on Saturday.&nbsp; 
 
IOC lawyers also met with the officials investigating the case which has centered around suspended IOC senior member Patrick Hickey, Reuters reported.&nbsp; 
 
The official also clarified that the committee was not asked to provide information, it was voluntary.&nbsp; 
 
A letter was sent to all IOC members regarding the issue saying, &quot;We have already sent to you a note last week on our colleague and IOC Executive Board member Patrick Hickey who has to remain in Brazil pending an investigation into the sale of tickets for the Olympic Games Rio 2016.&quot; 
 
&quot;The IOC, even though not having been officially requested by the Brazilian judicial authorities, but learning from the media about the case, has taken the initiative to cooperate with the judicial authorities and is in contact with them to shed full light on the matter.&quot; 
 
Patrick Hickey was released from Rio&#39;s Bangu 10 maximum security prison last month but will remain in Brazil until the hearing. He was also the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI). 
 
According to Reuters, police accused Hickey of leading the operation with PRO10 to funnel tickets for the Olympic Games through THG Sports to raise 10 million Reais ($3 million) after jacking up prices. The charges were denied by all parties involved. 
 
Last week a Rio de Janeiro court accepted prosecutors&#39; charges against Hickey, Kevin Mallon, a director of THG and nine other people.&nbsp; 
 
Martin Burke, Olympic Council of Irelands sports director, four other THG officials and three from Dublin-based PRO10 Sports Management, Ireland&#39;s official Olympic Games ticket reseller, were also charged.&nbsp; 
 
Except for Hickey and Mallon, all are outside the country and are now considered fugitives. All involved deny any wrongdoing. 
 
Rio police investigators suspected that the ring had operated for around eight years and was preparing for other Olympic events such as the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
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Patrick Hickey, a senior International Olympic Committee member is being investigated for ticket scalping during the Rio Olympic Games

An International Olympic Committee official said IOC met and provided information to Brazilian authorities investigating a case of ticket scalping during the Rio Olympics on Saturday. IOC lawyers also met with the officials investigating the case which has centered around suspended IOC senior member Patrick Hickey, Reuters reported. The official also clarified that the committee was not asked to provide information, it was voluntary. A letter was sent to all IOC members regarding the issue saying, "We have already sent to you a note last week on our colleague and IOC Executive Board member Patrick Hickey who has to remain in Brazil pending an investigation into the sale of tickets for the Olympic Games Rio 2016." "The IOC, even though not having been officially requested by the Brazilian judicial authorities, but learning from the media about the case, has taken the initiative to cooperate with the judicial authorities and is in contact with them to shed full light on the matter." Patrick Hickey was released from Rio's Bangu 10 maximum security prison last month but will remain in Brazil until the hearing. He was also the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI). According to Reuters, police accused Hickey of leading the operation with PRO10 to funnel tickets for the Olympic Games through THG Sports to raise 10 million Reais ($3 million) after jacking up prices. The charges were denied by all parties involved. Last week a Rio de Janeiro court accepted prosecutors' charges against Hickey, Kevin Mallon, a director of THG and nine other people. Martin Burke, Olympic Council of Irelands sports director, four other THG officials and three from Dublin-based PRO10 Sports Management, Ireland's official Olympic Games ticket reseller, were also charged. Except for Hickey and Mallon, all are outside the country and are now considered fugitives. All involved deny any wrongdoing. Rio police investigators suspected that the ring had operated for around eight years and was preparing for other Olympic events such as the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

IOC gives information to Brazilian authorities in Hickey case

Brazilian police detained two US swimmers and arrested a top International Olympic Committee official as scandal overshadowed the Rio Games and Usain Bolt&#39;s progress toward a new gold. 
 
Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were taken off a flight leaving Rio de Janeiro by authorities investigating doubts over their claim of having been mugged.&nbsp;That came hours after top European Olympic official Patrick Hickey was arrested in an investigation into black market Olympic ticket sales. 
 
Conger and Bentz along with star US swimmer Ryan Lochte and squad member James Feigen said they were held up at gunpoint in the early hours of Sunday. 
 
However, Brazilian judge Keyla Blank ordered the passports of all four to be seized to prevent them leaving the country. Lochte had already gone home. 
 
The Globo media organisation posted a video online showing Conger and Bentz walking into a police station on Wednesday. 
 
The G1 news site, which is part of Globo, reported that Bentz, 20, and Conger, 21, were detained for questioning and that Feigen, 26, was still in the country. 
 
Bentz and Conger left the airport in the middle of the night in a car that passed by a crowd of journalists, according to an AFP reporter. They were scheduled to appear before Rio tourism police today. 
 
The four made headlines with their terrifying account while returning from a party. 
 
Lochte said they were held up by muggers posing as police as they left a party just after 4:00am. In interviews, he described how he had a hand gun put to his head and handed over his money and wallet. 
 
 
&#39;Video showed victims laughing&#39; &nbsp; 
 
However, the judge said their story was full of inconsistencies. 
 
US television channel NBC quoted witnesses as saying the swimmers were at the party until daybreak. 
 
And Britain&#39;s Daily Mail obtained video surveillance showing the four laughing as they returned to the athletes&#39; village at 6.56 am on Sunday. 
 
Hickey, an IOC executive member, head of the European Olympic Committees and the Irish national committee, spent Wednesday night in hospital after being detained at his luxury hotel. 
 
Accused of ticket scalping, ambush marketing and conspiracy after tickets were seized from another Irish businessman, Hickey has &quot;temporarily&quot; stood down from his posts. 
 
Following a raid similar to the arrest of seven top FIFA officials at a Zurich hotel last year, Hickey was shown in media video answering his hotel room door unclothed before putting on a bath robe. 
 
Police said they suspect he had changed rooms to try to evade arrest. 
 
Hickey&#39;s wife was in another room and at first told them Hickey had left the country, police told reporters. 
 
Brazilian police have launched a widening investigation after seizing more than 1,000 premier tickets for Games events, including the opening ceremony. 
 
Tickets with a face value of about $1,000 dollars were sold for $8,000, in a racket prosecutors said yielded profits of $3.0 million. 
 
The head of a sports ticketing firm, THG Sports, was detained with the tickets on August 5. 
 
Hickey&#39;s son once worked for THG, but the sports powerbroker denied any wrongdoing in an interview with Irish television last week as the scandal mounted. 
 
The arrests diverted attention from the sporting action as Usain Bolt reached the final of the 200m - the second of his targeted three-gold-medal sweep of the Olympic sprint titles. 
 
While Bolt ran the season&#39;s best 19.78 seconds, his American arch-rival Justin Gatlin, 34, failed to reach the final. 
 
Gatlin, who won 100 m silver behind Bolt at the weekend, said he had not fully recovered from an ankle injury suffered in November. 
 
&quot;I definitely think I can try for the world record, I definitely feel that,&quot; Bolt said. 
 
Drug-tainted Russia&#39;s only competitor in the track and field, Darya Klishina, failed to reach the final medal battle in the long jump. The 25-year-old blamed the turmoil of the doping scandal for her disappointment. 
 
The IAAF gave her the green light for Rio and then banned her because of &quot;new&quot; doping information. She went to the sports tribunal to reverse the ban. 
 
Brazil&#39;s suffering sports fans got some good news when football star Neymar scored twice - including the fastest Olympic goal after 15 seconds - in a 6-0 win over Honduras in the Olympic semi-final. 
 
In the final, they will take on Germany in a revenge repeat of their disastrous 7-1 loss in the World Cup semi-final two years ago. 
 
(AFP)

Controversies diverted attention from the sporting action as Usain Bolt reached the final of the 200m

Brazilian police detained two US swimmers and arrested a top International Olympic Committee official as scandal overshadowed the Rio Games and Usain Bolt's progress toward a new gold. Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were taken off a flight leaving Rio de Janeiro by authorities investigating doubts over their claim of having been mugged. That came hours after top European Olympic official Patrick Hickey was arrested in an investigation into black market Olympic ticket sales. Conger and Bentz along with star US swimmer Ryan Lochte and squad member James Feigen said they were held up at gunpoint in the early hours of Sunday. However, Brazilian judge Keyla Blank ordered the passports of all four to be seized to prevent them leaving the country. Lochte had already gone home. The Globo media organisation posted a video online showing Conger and Bentz walking into a police station on Wednesday. The G1 news site, which is part of Globo, reported that Bentz, 20, and Conger, 21, were detained for questioning and that Feigen, 26, was still in the country. Bentz and Conger left the airport in the middle of the night in a car that passed by a crowd of journalists, according to an AFP reporter. They were scheduled to appear before Rio tourism police today. The four made headlines with their terrifying account while returning from a party. Lochte said they were held up by muggers posing as police as they left a party just after 4:00am. In interviews, he described how he had a hand gun put to his head and handed over his money and wallet. 'Video showed victims laughing' However, the judge said their story was full of inconsistencies. US television channel NBC quoted witnesses as saying the swimmers were at the party until daybreak. And Britain's Daily Mail obtained video surveillance showing the four laughing as they returned to the athletes' village at 6.56 am on Sunday. Hickey, an IOC executive member, head of the European Olympic Committees and the Irish national committee, spent Wednesday night in hospital after being detained at his luxury hotel. Accused of ticket scalping, ambush marketing and conspiracy after tickets were seized from another Irish businessman, Hickey has "temporarily" stood down from his posts. Following a raid similar to the arrest of seven top FIFA officials at a Zurich hotel last year, Hickey was shown in media video answering his hotel room door unclothed before putting on a bath robe. Police said they suspect he had changed rooms to try to evade arrest. Hickey's wife was in another room and at first told them Hickey had left the country, police told reporters. Brazilian police have launched a widening investigation after seizing more than 1,000 premier tickets for Games events, including the opening ceremony. Tickets with a face value of about $1,000 dollars were sold for $8,000, in a racket prosecutors said yielded profits of $3.0 million. The head of a sports ticketing firm, THG Sports, was detained with the tickets on August 5. Hickey's son once worked for THG, but the sports powerbroker denied any wrongdoing in an interview with Irish television last week as the scandal mounted. The arrests diverted attention from the sporting action as Usain Bolt reached the final of the 200m - the second of his targeted three-gold-medal sweep of the Olympic sprint titles. While Bolt ran the season's best 19.78 seconds, his American arch-rival Justin Gatlin, 34, failed to reach the final. Gatlin, who won 100 m silver behind Bolt at the weekend, said he had not fully recovered from an ankle injury suffered in November. "I definitely think I can try for the world record, I definitely feel that," Bolt said. Drug-tainted Russia's only competitor in the track and field, Darya Klishina, failed to reach the final medal battle in the long jump. The 25-year-old blamed the turmoil of the doping scandal for her disappointment. The IAAF gave her the green light for Rio and then banned her because of "new" doping information. She went to the sports tribunal to reverse the ban. Brazil's suffering sports fans got some good news when football star Neymar scored twice - including the fastest Olympic goal after 15 seconds - in a 6-0 win over Honduras in the Olympic semi-final. In the final, they will take on Germany in a revenge repeat of their disastrous 7-1 loss in the World Cup semi-final two years ago. (AFP)

Swim, IOC scandals overshadow Bolt's advance

The International Olympic Committee&#39;s decision to reject calls to ban all Russian competitors from the Rio Olympics could lead to &quot;lesser protection for clean athletes,&quot; the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Sunday. 
 
The global anti-doping agency said it stood by its earlier recommendation that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decline all entries for the Rio Games submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee. 
 
The IOC on Sunday resisted calls for a blanket ban on Russians competing in next month&#39;s Rio games due to the country&#39;s doping record, leaving decisions on individual athletes&#39; participation with their sports federations. 
 
&quot;WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA&rsquo;s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonised approach,&rdquo; WADA President Craig Reedie said in a statement. 
 
&ldquo;The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code,&quot; Reedie added. 
 
&#39;Why did IOC not allow Stepanova to run as independent athlete?&#39; 
 
WADA also joined other anti-doping leaders in expressing concern over the effect of the IOC decision. 
 
&quot;The approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonisation, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes,&rdquo; WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said. 
 
He also questioned why the IOC had not allowed Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to run as an independent athlete in Rio. 
 
&quot;Ms. Stepanova was instrumental in courageously exposing the single biggest doping scandal of all time,&rdquo; Niggli said. &ldquo;WADA is very concerned by the message that this sends whistleblowers for the future.&quot; 
 
Evidence from the McLaren report had also been sent to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), WADA said. 
 
The IPC will make its own decision on whether to permit Russian athletes in the Paralympics. It has already started suspension proceedings against Russia following the McLaren report. 
 
Responding to IOC calls that the agency review the anti-doping system, WADA said it was fully committed to further strengthening system. 
 
It also confirmed professor Richard McLaren would continue his investigative work into doping and &quot;identify athletes that might have benefited from manipulation of the doping control process to conceal positive doping tests&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)

The IOC resisted calls for a blanket ban on Sunday on Russians competing in next month's Rio games due to the country's doping record

The International Olympic Committee's decision to reject calls to ban all Russian competitors from the Rio Olympics could lead to "lesser protection for clean athletes," the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Sunday. The global anti-doping agency said it stood by its earlier recommendation that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decline all entries for the Rio Games submitted by the Russian Olympic Committee. The IOC on Sunday resisted calls for a blanket ban on Russians competing in next month's Rio games due to the country's doping record, leaving decisions on individual athletes' participation with their sports federations. "WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA’s Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonised approach,” WADA President Craig Reedie said in a statement. “The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code," Reedie added. 'Why did IOC not allow Stepanova to run as independent athlete?' WADA also joined other anti-doping leaders in expressing concern over the effect of the IOC decision. "The approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonisation, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes,” WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said. He also questioned why the IOC had not allowed Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to run as an independent athlete in Rio. "Ms. Stepanova was instrumental in courageously exposing the single biggest doping scandal of all time,” Niggli said. “WADA is very concerned by the message that this sends whistleblowers for the future." Evidence from the McLaren report had also been sent to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), WADA said. The IPC will make its own decision on whether to permit Russian athletes in the Paralympics. It has already started suspension proceedings against Russia following the McLaren report. Responding to IOC calls that the agency review the anti-doping system, WADA said it was fully committed to further strengthening system. It also confirmed professor Richard McLaren would continue his investigative work into doping and "identify athletes that might have benefited from manipulation of the doping control process to conceal positive doping tests". (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: WADA 'disappointed' by IOC decision on Russia

Eleven weightlifters, including six medallists, produced positive samples in the second wave of doping retests from the 2012 London Olympics, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said yesterday. 
 
Russia&#39;s five-times European champion Nataliya Zabolotnaya was among three silver medallists from the London Games to fail tests along with compatriots Alexandr Ivanov and Svetlana Tzarukaeva. 
 
Zabolotnaya finished second in the women&rsquo;s -75kg event in London, repeating her silver-medal performance in Athens eight years earlier. 
 
Ivanov was world champion in 2010 and 2013 in the -94kg category, while Tzarukaeva won the world title in 2011 in the 63kg event. 
 
Other London medallists to fail tests included Iryna Kulesha of Belarus, Armenia&rsquo;s Hripsime Khurshudyan and Moldova&rsquo;s Cristina Iovu. 
 
The IWF said the 11 athletes have all been provisionally suspended. 
 
All the athletes who tested positive were found to have used the banned anabolic steroid Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday that 45 athletes had failed dope tests after their samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and London 2012 were reanalysed. 
 
The second wave of retests included 138 samples from London 2012, involving athletes from two sports and nine countries. The London 2012 retests produced 15 failures. 
 
(Reuters)

All the athletes who tested positive were found to have used a banned anabolic steroid

Eleven weightlifters, including six medallists, produced positive samples in the second wave of doping retests from the 2012 London Olympics, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said yesterday. Russia's five-times European champion Nataliya Zabolotnaya was among three silver medallists from the London Games to fail tests along with compatriots Alexandr Ivanov and Svetlana Tzarukaeva. Zabolotnaya finished second in the women’s -75kg event in London, repeating her silver-medal performance in Athens eight years earlier. Ivanov was world champion in 2010 and 2013 in the -94kg category, while Tzarukaeva won the world title in 2011 in the 63kg event. Other London medallists to fail tests included Iryna Kulesha of Belarus, Armenia’s Hripsime Khurshudyan and Moldova’s Cristina Iovu. The IWF said the 11 athletes have all been provisionally suspended. All the athletes who tested positive were found to have used the banned anabolic steroid Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday that 45 athletes had failed dope tests after their samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and London 2012 were reanalysed. The second wave of retests included 138 samples from London 2012, involving athletes from two sports and nine countries. The London 2012 retests produced 15 failures. (Reuters)

Eleven London 2012 weightlifters test positive for doping, temporarily suspended

There is just a one per cent probability that the International Olympic Committee will allow Russian track-and-field athletes to take part in the Rio Olympics, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said today. 
 
The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Russia&#39;s appeal against a doping ban for its entire athletics team from the Rio Olympics on Thursday. 
 
&quot;Of all the things I&#39;m going to say about athletics, even though there&#39;s still one per cent chance (that they will go to the olympics), but actually first of all we&#39;re going to keep everything we should of the maintenance of our teams, the training process, the monetary maintenance. Until the end of the year they&#39;re going to keep working in this way and they&#39;re not going to have any problems,&quot; Mutko said in response to a reporter&#39;s question at a news conference at Russia&#39;s Football Union. 
 
Doping scandals have plagued the build-up to the world&#39;s biggest multi-sports event, with Russia potentially facing a complete Games ban following the publication of the McLaren report on July 18. 
 
The report revealed evidence of a systematic and widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Russia's appeal against a doping ban for its entire athletics team from the Rio Olympics

There is just a one per cent probability that the International Olympic Committee will allow Russian track-and-field athletes to take part in the Rio Olympics, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said today. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Russia's appeal against a doping ban for its entire athletics team from the Rio Olympics on Thursday. "Of all the things I'm going to say about athletics, even though there's still one per cent chance (that they will go to the olympics), but actually first of all we're going to keep everything we should of the maintenance of our teams, the training process, the monetary maintenance. Until the end of the year they're going to keep working in this way and they're not going to have any problems," Mutko said in response to a reporter's question at a news conference at Russia's Football Union. Doping scandals have plagued the build-up to the world's biggest multi-sports event, with Russia potentially facing a complete Games ban following the publication of the McLaren report on July 18. The report revealed evidence of a systematic and widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. (Reuters)

Russian sports minister: 1% chance nation's athletes to go to Rio

The International Olympic Committee said today it would decide &quot;within seven days&quot; on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant state-run doping.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We expect (to have) a decision within seven days on the participation of Russian competitors in Rio,&quot; IOC media relations chief Emmanuelle Moreau said. 
 
The Games in Rio de Janeiro open on August 5.&nbsp; 
 
The IOC has faced growing calls to hit Russia with an outright ban after a report commissioned by the World Anti Doping Agency found the country ran an elaborate cheating programme at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and other major events. 
 
Following an emergency conference on Tuesday, the IOC&#39;s executive board said it would study the &quot;legal options&quot; regarding a prospective Russia suspension. 
 
It would be an unprecedented move, as no country has been excluded from an Olympics over doping. 
 
IOC leaders said they would consider a decision due Thursday from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on a previously imposed ban by the International Association of Atheletic&#39;s Federation (IAAF) against Russia&#39;s track field and team. 
 
That ban followed similar revelations of rampant doping with support from Moscow. 
 
Sixty-eight Russian athletes have appealed to CAS challenging the IAAF&#39;s right to punish an entire national federation, since some team members have no positive drug tests on their record. 
 
The CAS ruling on the validity of collective punishment is expected to help guide the IOC&#39;s decision on Russia&#39;s eligibility for Rio.&nbsp; 
Moreau said IOC leaders would have further talks on the Russia dispute in the coming days, following the CAS ruling. 
 
(AFP)

Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling on the validity of collective punishment is expected to help guide the IOC's decision

The International Olympic Committee said today it would decide "within seven days" on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant state-run doping. "We expect (to have) a decision within seven days on the participation of Russian competitors in Rio," IOC media relations chief Emmanuelle Moreau said. The Games in Rio de Janeiro open on August 5. The IOC has faced growing calls to hit Russia with an outright ban after a report commissioned by the World Anti Doping Agency found the country ran an elaborate cheating programme at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and other major events. Following an emergency conference on Tuesday, the IOC's executive board said it would study the "legal options" regarding a prospective Russia suspension. It would be an unprecedented move, as no country has been excluded from an Olympics over doping. IOC leaders said they would consider a decision due Thursday from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on a previously imposed ban by the International Association of Atheletic's Federation (IAAF) against Russia's track field and team. That ban followed similar revelations of rampant doping with support from Moscow. Sixty-eight Russian athletes have appealed to CAS challenging the IAAF's right to punish an entire national federation, since some team members have no positive drug tests on their record. The CAS ruling on the validity of collective punishment is expected to help guide the IOC's decision on Russia's eligibility for Rio. Moreau said IOC leaders would have further talks on the Russia dispute in the coming days, following the CAS ruling. (AFP)

International Olympic Committee to decide on Russia Rio ban 'within a week'

The International Olympic Committee today barred Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko and other ministry officials from attending the Rio Games after the revelation of a state-run doping system. 
 
&quot;The IOC will not grant any accreditation to any official of the Russian Ministry of sport or any person implicated in the (independent) report for the Games of the Olympiad Rio 2016,&quot; said an IOC statement. 
 
An independent inquiry commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said the Russian sports ministry organised a state-dictated failsafe system of cheating by Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics and other major events hosted by Russia. 
Deputy sports minister Yury Nagornykh is among officials to have been suspended by the Kremlin since the report was released on Monday. 
 
The International Olympic Committee today also that said it will study &quot;legal options&quot; on banning all Russian athletes from the Rio Games and also ordered a disciplinary commission to look into the role of Russian officials in a state-run doping system. 
 
The IOC executive held emergency telephone talks after a WADA commissioned report said there had been state-sanctioned doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other major events. 
 
The IOC &quot;will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice&quot;, said a statement. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;In this respect, the IOC will have to take the CAS decision on July 21 2016 concerning the IAAF rules into consideration, as well as the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Charter.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

IOC will not grant any accreditation to any Russian sport ministry official or any person implicated in the WADA report

The International Olympic Committee today barred Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko and other ministry officials from attending the Rio Games after the revelation of a state-run doping system. "The IOC will not grant any accreditation to any official of the Russian Ministry of sport or any person implicated in the (independent) report for the Games of the Olympiad Rio 2016," said an IOC statement. An independent inquiry commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said the Russian sports ministry organised a state-dictated failsafe system of cheating by Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics and other major events hosted by Russia. Deputy sports minister Yury Nagornykh is among officials to have been suspended by the Kremlin since the report was released on Monday. The International Olympic Committee today also that said it will study "legal options" on banning all Russian athletes from the Rio Games and also ordered a disciplinary commission to look into the role of Russian officials in a state-run doping system. The IOC executive held emergency telephone talks after a WADA commissioned report said there had been state-sanctioned doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other major events. The IOC "will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice", said a statement. "In this respect, the IOC will have to take the CAS decision on July 21 2016 concerning the IAAF rules into consideration, as well as the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Charter." (AFP)

IOC bars Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko from Rio Olympics

The International Olympic Committee said that Russian doping cover-ups confirmed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today showed a &quot;shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and the Olympic Games&quot;, and that it would not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions. 
 
An independent report commissioned by WADA confirmed extraordinary systematic abuse of the anti-doping process across many sports by Russian authorities before and during the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi in 2014. 
 
In a statement, IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC &quot;will now carefully study the complex and detailed allegations in particular with regard to the Russian ministry of sport&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The findings of the report show a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games,&quot; he said. &quot;Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organisation implicated.&quot; 
 
The IOC executive board will hold a telephone conference on Tuesday to take its first decisions, which could include provisional measures and sanctions regarding the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month, the IOC said. 
 
Last week, Bach indicated that a total ban on Russia competing in Rio was unlikely, saying, &quot;It is obvious you cannot sanction a badminton player for an infringement of the rules by an official or a lab director at the Winter Games.&quot; 
 
However, in the light of Monday&#39;s report, with a wide group of sports bodies now calling for a blanket ban, a broad sanction could now be on the cards. 
 
Russia&#39;s track and field athletes are already banned, as are its weightlifters, subject to confirmation of positive dope tests from samples given in 2008 and 2012. 
 
(Reuters)

World Anti-Doping Agency today confirmed manipulation of the anti-doping process by Russian authorities at Sochi Olympics in 2014

The International Olympic Committee said that Russian doping cover-ups confirmed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today showed a "shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and the Olympic Games", and that it would not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions. An independent report commissioned by WADA confirmed extraordinary systematic abuse of the anti-doping process across many sports by Russian authorities before and during the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi in 2014. In a statement, IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC "will now carefully study the complex and detailed allegations in particular with regard to the Russian ministry of sport". "The findings of the report show a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games," he said. "Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organisation implicated." The IOC executive board will hold a telephone conference on Tuesday to take its first decisions, which could include provisional measures and sanctions regarding the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month, the IOC said. Last week, Bach indicated that a total ban on Russia competing in Rio was unlikely, saying, "It is obvious you cannot sanction a badminton player for an infringement of the rules by an official or a lab director at the Winter Games." However, in the light of Monday's report, with a wide group of sports bodies now calling for a blanket ban, a broad sanction could now be on the cards. Russia's track and field athletes are already banned, as are its weightlifters, subject to confirmation of positive dope tests from samples given in 2008 and 2012. (Reuters)

International Olympic Committee will take 'toughest sanctions' over Sochi doping

Widespread doping and manipulation of tests by Russian athletes and officials at the Sochi Olympics, overseen by the ministry of sport, was confirmed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today, further fuelling calls for a complete ban on the country from the Rio Games. 
 
According to the WADA&#39;s independent commission report, which was led by Canadian law professor and sports lawyer Richard McLaren and unveiled at a Toronto news conference, a Moscow laboratory protected Russian athletes during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. 
 
McLaren, who was a member of WADA&#39;s independent commission which last year exposed widespread doping and corruption in Russian athletics, leading to the ban on Russian track and field athletes from Rio, said the Russian ministry of sport oversaw the manipulation of athletes&#39; analytical results and sample swapping. 
 
The report addressed accusations made by former Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory head Grigory Rodchenkov, who two months ago told the New York Times dozens of Russians used performance-enhancing drugs in Sochi with approval from national sports authorities. 
 
Rodchenkov claimed that up to 15 Russian medal winners at the Sochi Winter Games were part of a programme in which tainted urine samples were switched for clean ones. 
 
According to McLaren, Rodchenkov and all other witnesses interviewed were deemed credible and the personnel at the Moscow laboratory did not have a choice in whether to be involved in the state-directed system. 
 
Many organisations, including the United States Anti-Doping agency, have said that the Sochi revelations should lead to a blanket ban on Russia. 
 
However, Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) indicated last week that he was reluctant to see athletes from one sport punished for the crimes of those, or officials, from another. 
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin staked his reputation on the Sochi Games, which at about $50 billion was the most expensive in Olympic history. Russia topped the medal table with 13 gold medals and 33 overall. 
 
WADA appointed McLaren in May to lead the probe after some observers voiced concerns about a conflict of interest given that the allegations related to the Sochi Olympics and that WADA is funded by the International Olympic Committee. 
 
(Reuters)

McLaren, a member of the Agency, said the Russian sports ministry oversaw the manipulation of athletes' results and sample swapping

Widespread doping and manipulation of tests by Russian athletes and officials at the Sochi Olympics, overseen by the ministry of sport, was confirmed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today, further fuelling calls for a complete ban on the country from the Rio Games. According to the WADA's independent commission report, which was led by Canadian law professor and sports lawyer Richard McLaren and unveiled at a Toronto news conference, a Moscow laboratory protected Russian athletes during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. McLaren, who was a member of WADA's independent commission which last year exposed widespread doping and corruption in Russian athletics, leading to the ban on Russian track and field athletes from Rio, said the Russian ministry of sport oversaw the manipulation of athletes' analytical results and sample swapping. The report addressed accusations made by former Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory head Grigory Rodchenkov, who two months ago told the New York Times dozens of Russians used performance-enhancing drugs in Sochi with approval from national sports authorities. Rodchenkov claimed that up to 15 Russian medal winners at the Sochi Winter Games were part of a programme in which tainted urine samples were switched for clean ones. According to McLaren, Rodchenkov and all other witnesses interviewed were deemed credible and the personnel at the Moscow laboratory did not have a choice in whether to be involved in the state-directed system. Many organisations, including the United States Anti-Doping agency, have said that the Sochi revelations should lead to a blanket ban on Russia. However, Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) indicated last week that he was reluctant to see athletes from one sport punished for the crimes of those, or officials, from another. Russian President Vladimir Putin staked his reputation on the Sochi Games, which at about $50 billion was the most expensive in Olympic history. Russia topped the medal table with 13 gold medals and 33 overall. WADA appointed McLaren in May to lead the probe after some observers voiced concerns about a conflict of interest given that the allegations related to the Sochi Olympics and that WADA is funded by the International Olympic Committee. (Reuters)

World Anti-Doping Agency: Moscow laboratory protected doped Russian athletes at Sochi Olympics

Russia&#39;s Olympic chief today attacked the United States and Canada&#39;s anti-doping agencies for trying to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) into imposing a full ban on Russia from the Rio Olympics. 
 
In a letter sent late Sunday to IOC president Thomas Bach, the head of Russia&#39;s Olympic committee Alexander Zhukov expressed deep concern and threatened to refer the case to the IOC ethics board. 
 
&quot;Russia&#39;s Olympic Committee was extremely disappointed with the moves by the anti-doping agencies of the United States and Canada,&quot; Zhukov wrote in his letter, which was released by the Russian committee&#39;s press service on Monday. 
 
&quot;We consider it to be an attempt to create an international coalition of athletes and organisations supporting a complete ban on Russian athletes competing at the Olympics.&quot; 
 
Zhukov also expressed concern that the results of the investigation of WADA independent commission had been leaked ahead of its release later on Monday. 
 
&quot;This campaign is apparently based on information received by the WADA commission led by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, though this report should remain independent and completely confidential until the date of its release,&quot; Zhukov said. 
 
&quot;How could these organisations know in advance the content of the report before it was officially presented? The situation raises very serious concern in the Russian Olympic Committee since it casts doubt on the integrity and independence of this report.&quot; 
 
Russia&#39;s Olympic supremo also said that the North-American anti-doping agencies&#39; moves seemed to be part of a pre-planned campaign. 
 
&quot;We have the impression that this is part of a well-planned and preconceived campaign aimed at keeping Russian athletes out of competition at the Rio Olympic Games regardless of the existence of any proofs that are needed to take such an unprecedented decision,&quot; Zhukov said. 
 
He accused Beckie Scott, the Canadian chairman of the WADA athletes commission of being &quot;only interested in punishing hundreds of clean Russian athletes for crimes that they did not commit&quot;. 
 
&quot;Her intervention... runs counter to the principles of the Olympics charter and undermines trust in McLaren&#39;s report ahead of its release,&quot; he said. 
 
Zhukov said Russia is &quot;considering the possibility of sending this issue to the IOC ethics commission&quot; to ensure that procedures were followed strictly during the independent investigation. 
 
Zhukov&#39;s letter came after Russia&#39;s sports minister Vitaly Mutko condemned the situation around the McLaren report as &quot;just a farce and political pressure&quot;. 
 
Russia is already barred from international athletics by the International Association of Athletics Federations. 
 
But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) could rule as early as Tuesday on an appeal by 68 Russian athletes who say they should be allowed to compete in Rio. 
 
McLaren has investigated allegations made by former Moscow doping laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov that even Russian secret services took part in an operation to manipulate Russian doping samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. 
 
(AFP)

Alexander Zhukov sent a letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president threatening to refer the case to the ethics board

Russia's Olympic chief today attacked the United States and Canada's anti-doping agencies for trying to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) into imposing a full ban on Russia from the Rio Olympics. In a letter sent late Sunday to IOC president Thomas Bach, the head of Russia's Olympic committee Alexander Zhukov expressed deep concern and threatened to refer the case to the IOC ethics board. "Russia's Olympic Committee was extremely disappointed with the moves by the anti-doping agencies of the United States and Canada," Zhukov wrote in his letter, which was released by the Russian committee's press service on Monday. "We consider it to be an attempt to create an international coalition of athletes and organisations supporting a complete ban on Russian athletes competing at the Olympics." Zhukov also expressed concern that the results of the investigation of WADA independent commission had been leaked ahead of its release later on Monday. "This campaign is apparently based on information received by the WADA commission led by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, though this report should remain independent and completely confidential until the date of its release," Zhukov said. "How could these organisations know in advance the content of the report before it was officially presented? The situation raises very serious concern in the Russian Olympic Committee since it casts doubt on the integrity and independence of this report." Russia's Olympic supremo also said that the North-American anti-doping agencies' moves seemed to be part of a pre-planned campaign. "We have the impression that this is part of a well-planned and preconceived campaign aimed at keeping Russian athletes out of competition at the Rio Olympic Games regardless of the existence of any proofs that are needed to take such an unprecedented decision," Zhukov said. He accused Beckie Scott, the Canadian chairman of the WADA athletes commission of being "only interested in punishing hundreds of clean Russian athletes for crimes that they did not commit". "Her intervention... runs counter to the principles of the Olympics charter and undermines trust in McLaren's report ahead of its release," he said. Zhukov said Russia is "considering the possibility of sending this issue to the IOC ethics commission" to ensure that procedures were followed strictly during the independent investigation. Zhukov's letter came after Russia's sports minister Vitaly Mutko condemned the situation around the McLaren report as "just a farce and political pressure". Russia is already barred from international athletics by the International Association of Athletics Federations. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) could rule as early as Tuesday on an appeal by 68 Russian athletes who say they should be allowed to compete in Rio. McLaren has investigated allegations made by former Moscow doping laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov that even Russian secret services took part in an operation to manipulate Russian doping samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. (AFP)

Russia's Olympic chief attacks ban demands

American&nbsp;teenager Virginia&nbsp;Thrasher&nbsp;won the&nbsp;first&nbsp;gold&nbsp;medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic&nbsp;Games today, holding her nerve against two Chinese Olympic champions to clinch the women&#39;s 10m air rifle event.

The 19-year-old&nbsp;American&nbsp;edged out China&#39;s Du Li,&nbsp;gold&nbsp;in Athens in 2004, with an Olympic-record score of 208. Defending Olympic champion Yi Siling, also of China, took the bronze medal.

Thrasher&nbsp;was awarded the&nbsp;first&nbsp;gold&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Games&nbsp;by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Competing in her&nbsp;first&nbsp;Olympics,&nbsp;Thrasher&nbsp;established an early lead after battling with the Russian shooter Daria Vdovina, who stumbled midway through the competition and finished fifth. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

American Thrasher edged out China's Du Li with an Olympic-record score of 208

American teenager Virginia Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games today, holding her nerve against two Chinese Olympic champions to clinch the women's 10m air rifle event. The 19-year-old American edged out China's Du Li, gold in Athens in 2004, with an Olympic-record score of 208. Defending Olympic champion Yi Siling, also of China, took the bronze medal. Thrasher was awarded the first gold of the Games by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. Competing in her first Olympics, Thrasher established an early lead after battling with the Russian shooter Daria Vdovina, who stumbled midway through the competition and finished fifth. (Reuters)

Virginia Thrasher wins first gold of Games

Brazil&#39;s athletes were not subject to dope tests for almost a month before the Rio Olympics, the country&#39;s sports ministry has said while refuting allegations it was a political decision to ensure the games were not plunged further into crisis. 
 
Brazil&#39;s sports ministry confirmed no tests were carried out between July 1 and July 24 due to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspension on a drug testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, The Times reported today. 
 
WADA said it was &quot;concerned&quot; and has sent a letter to Brazil&#39;s sports minister asking why the tests had been stopped. 
 
&quot;We sent a letter to the minister of sport and the executive director of the Brazilian national anti-doping agency, pressing our concerns and demanding to know why testing had been stopped in Brazil,&quot; WADA deputy director Rob Koehler told the newspaper. 
 
&quot;The response was not satisfactory... the explanation that it had come about due to the changing of the guard in the ministry and the agency was not acceptable to us. 
 
&quot;We informed the pre-Games task force and we told them to ramp up increased tests. It was unacceptable that it stopped. That was not a good move... the fact no testing was happening was a concern.&quot; 
 
South America&#39;s first Olympics have been mired in a drugs scandal with Russia&#39;s track-and-field athletes and weightlifters barred from the Rio Games over doping offences. 
 
The European country narrowly avoided a complete ban over allegations its government and FSB security service systematically covered up widespread cheating. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose not to impose a blanket ban on all Russian athletes but directed sports federations to allow them to compete if they met a set of criteria, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events. 
 
Faced pressure from ministry, alleges Horta&nbsp; 
 
Luis Horta, the former head of Portugal&#39;s anti-doping agency who was given a role as an adviser to Brazil, alleged he faced pressure from the country&#39;s sports ministry and Olympic committee to reduce testing. 
 
A statement from Brazil&#39;s sports ministry refuted the allegations, while adding that three overseas laboratories were approached but were unable to help with the testing of samples. 
 
&quot;The Ministry of Sport and the Brazilian Doping Control Authority strongly refute the accusations made by Mr Horta,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;With the suspension imposed by WADA to the laboratory on June 22, the tests planned for the period between 1 and 24 July were compromised (the suspension was only lifted on July 20), as analyses could not be submitted. 
 
&quot;Therefore, the planned tests ended up not being done in that period.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

'Brazil's sports ministry confirmed no tests were carried out between July 1 and July 24 due to a WADA suspension on drug testing lab'

Brazil's athletes were not subject to dope tests for almost a month before the Rio Olympics, the country's sports ministry has said while refuting allegations it was a political decision to ensure the games were not plunged further into crisis. Brazil's sports ministry confirmed no tests were carried out between July 1 and July 24 due to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspension on a drug testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, The Times reported today. WADA said it was "concerned" and has sent a letter to Brazil's sports minister asking why the tests had been stopped. "We sent a letter to the minister of sport and the executive director of the Brazilian national anti-doping agency, pressing our concerns and demanding to know why testing had been stopped in Brazil," WADA deputy director Rob Koehler told the newspaper. "The response was not satisfactory... the explanation that it had come about due to the changing of the guard in the ministry and the agency was not acceptable to us. "We informed the pre-Games task force and we told them to ramp up increased tests. It was unacceptable that it stopped. That was not a good move... the fact no testing was happening was a concern." South America's first Olympics have been mired in a drugs scandal with Russia's track-and-field athletes and weightlifters barred from the Rio Games over doping offences. The European country narrowly avoided a complete ban over allegations its government and FSB security service systematically covered up widespread cheating. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose not to impose a blanket ban on all Russian athletes but directed sports federations to allow them to compete if they met a set of criteria, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events. Faced pressure from ministry, alleges Horta Luis Horta, the former head of Portugal's anti-doping agency who was given a role as an adviser to Brazil, alleged he faced pressure from the country's sports ministry and Olympic committee to reduce testing. A statement from Brazil's sports ministry refuted the allegations, while adding that three overseas laboratories were approached but were unable to help with the testing of samples. "The Ministry of Sport and the Brazilian Doping Control Authority strongly refute the accusations made by Mr Horta," it said. "With the suspension imposed by WADA to the laboratory on June 22, the tests planned for the period between 1 and 24 July were compromised (the suspension was only lifted on July 20), as analyses could not be submitted. "Therefore, the planned tests ended up not being done in that period." (Reuters)

WADA questions why athletes were not dope-tested ahead of Rio 2016

The International Olympic Committee eased a ban on Russian athletes competing in the Rio Games as the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Wednesday it was wrestling with a record number of appeals. 
 
The IOC sent out &quot;new guidance&quot; on how to implement sanctions ordered after an investigation found widespread state-backed Russian doping, according to the world sailing federation. 
 
Sailing&#39;s world body said it had cancelled a ban against Russian 470 class contender Pavel Sozykin because of the new instructions. 
 
The IOC had initially said any athlete &quot;implicated&quot; in the state-run doping revealed by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren should be excluded from the Games. 
 
But a new statement sent to the 28 summer Olympics federations on Monday &quot;indicated that an athlete should not be considered as &#39;implicated&#39; if the McLaren list does not refer to a prohibited substance which would have given rise to an anti-doping rules violation,&quot; the sailing federation said. 
 
Sozykin, like many Russian athletes facing bans, was named in connection with the manipulation of samples so positive results could be covered up. 
 
World sailing said it had reinstated Sozykin because the substance he was accused of taking would not have resulted in a ban. 
 
But dozens of would-be Olympians from Russia remained in limbo as CAS sorted through their appeals. 
 
CAS said at least 11 of the 18 appeals launched at a special tribunal in Rio since July 26 involved Russian athletes banned after they were implicated in the McLaren probe. 
 
CAS said in a statement that the tribunal in Rio had set &quot;a new record of cases for one edition of the Olympic Games&quot; before the Rio event starts on Friday. 
 
At the 2012 London Olympics, CAS had 11 cases in all to handle. 
 
CAS on Wednesday rejected a challenge by the Russian weightlifting federation against its suspension by the international weightlifting federation after the McLaren report. 
 
That meant eight Russian lifters were banned from Rio. 
 
An appeal by 17 Russian rowers was also been rejected. 
 
&#39;Something needs to change&#39; 
 
Nine other Russian procedures involved four Russian swimmers, four weightlifters who made individual appeals, three cyclists, three rowers, a wrestler and a canoeist. 
 
An IOC spokesman said that a panel that will confirm the Russian team was still &quot;very close&quot; to finishing the final number. 
 
According to an AFP count, at least 119 athletes from the 387 entered by the Russian Olympic Committee have now been excluded by federations. 
 
The scale of the scandal has rocked the Olympic movement but Olympic great Michael Phelps said that at heart it was nothing new. 
 
&quot;I think I can honestly say, in my career, I don&#39;t know if I&#39;ve ever competed in a clean sport,&quot; said the 18-time Olympic gold medallist as he headed into his fifth Olympics. &quot;It&#39;s upsetting.&quot; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s something that needs to change about all sport, not just swimming,&quot; he said. &quot;We&#39;ve had this problem for how many Olympics now -- it seems almost every time there&#39;s something that comes up. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s sad. It&#39;s really sad that we can&#39;t control it. That somebody who is in charge cannot control this.&quot; 
 
Phelps&#39;s longtime coach Bob Bowman, head coach of the US men&#39;s swimming team in Rio, said the governing bodies of sports had &quot;dropped the ball&quot;. 
 
&quot;The system is broken, and it has to be fixed,&quot; he said. 
 
(AFP)

The IOC has reportedly sent out 'new guidance' on how to implement sanctions against Russian sportspersons

The International Olympic Committee eased a ban on Russian athletes competing in the Rio Games as the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Wednesday it was wrestling with a record number of appeals. The IOC sent out "new guidance" on how to implement sanctions ordered after an investigation found widespread state-backed Russian doping, according to the world sailing federation. Sailing's world body said it had cancelled a ban against Russian 470 class contender Pavel Sozykin because of the new instructions. The IOC had initially said any athlete "implicated" in the state-run doping revealed by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren should be excluded from the Games. But a new statement sent to the 28 summer Olympics federations on Monday "indicated that an athlete should not be considered as 'implicated' if the McLaren list does not refer to a prohibited substance which would have given rise to an anti-doping rules violation," the sailing federation said. Sozykin, like many Russian athletes facing bans, was named in connection with the manipulation of samples so positive results could be covered up. World sailing said it had reinstated Sozykin because the substance he was accused of taking would not have resulted in a ban. But dozens of would-be Olympians from Russia remained in limbo as CAS sorted through their appeals. CAS said at least 11 of the 18 appeals launched at a special tribunal in Rio since July 26 involved Russian athletes banned after they were implicated in the McLaren probe. CAS said in a statement that the tribunal in Rio had set "a new record of cases for one edition of the Olympic Games" before the Rio event starts on Friday. At the 2012 London Olympics, CAS had 11 cases in all to handle. CAS on Wednesday rejected a challenge by the Russian weightlifting federation against its suspension by the international weightlifting federation after the McLaren report. That meant eight Russian lifters were banned from Rio. An appeal by 17 Russian rowers was also been rejected. 'Something needs to change' Nine other Russian procedures involved four Russian swimmers, four weightlifters who made individual appeals, three cyclists, three rowers, a wrestler and a canoeist. An IOC spokesman said that a panel that will confirm the Russian team was still "very close" to finishing the final number. According to an AFP count, at least 119 athletes from the 387 entered by the Russian Olympic Committee have now been excluded by federations. The scale of the scandal has rocked the Olympic movement but Olympic great Michael Phelps said that at heart it was nothing new. "I think I can honestly say, in my career, I don't know if I've ever competed in a clean sport," said the 18-time Olympic gold medallist as he headed into his fifth Olympics. "It's upsetting." "It's something that needs to change about all sport, not just swimming," he said. "We've had this problem for how many Olympics now -- it seems almost every time there's something that comes up. "It's sad. It's really sad that we can't control it. That somebody who is in charge cannot control this." Phelps's longtime coach Bob Bowman, head coach of the US men's swimming team in Rio, said the governing bodies of sports had "dropped the ball". "The system is broken, and it has to be fixed," he said. (AFP)

IOC eases ban on Russian athletes as CAS wrestles with record number of appeals

A top Russian official said Thursday that at least 271 athletes would compete in the Rio Olympics after clearing a doping probe which has slashed their team to its smallest size in more than a century. 
 
Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said some other cases remained unresolved after investigations prompted by the discovery of a state-orchestrated plot to dupe drugs testers. 
 
&quot;As of now 271 athletes have been admitted,&quot; Zhukov told a press conference in Rio, saying two track cyclists and freestyle wrestler Viktor Lebidev were among the athletes still in limbo. 
 
But he took a swipe at the total ban on Russia&#39;s track and field team, which has robbed athletes like pole vault world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva and 110m hurdles world champion Sergey Shubenkov of the chance to compete. 
 
Zhukov said it was &quot;unfair&quot; that athletes from other countries who have previously served drugs bans, such as American sprinter Justin Gatlin, will compete in Rio. 
 
&quot;We think it&#39;s unfair that some Russian athletes like Yelena Isinbayeva and Shubenkov, who have never been accused of doping, are not allowed to compete this time,&quot; Zhukov said. 
 
&quot;However, in contrast, some other athletes, like the American runner Gatlin, have been admitted to the Games.&quot; 
 
Russia, who finished fourth on the London 2012 Olympic medals table and have topped the table seven times, will have their smallest team since 1912 at the Rio Games, which open on Friday.Russia entered 387 names for the Olympics but competitors implicated in last month`s bombshell World Anti-Doping Agency report have been eliminated by sports federations. 
 
A three-member International Olympic Committee panel which reviewed the list submitted by the federations was due to announce its final figure for the Russian squad later on Thursday. 
 
Among 31 swimmers accepted are Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, who were initially banned. Fellow swimmer Yulia Efimova&#39;s case is still being examined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 
 
While all Russian weightlifters have been banned, all of the country`s boxers have been allowed to compete.&nbsp; 
 
World Sailing has also let a competitor initially banned back into the contest. 
 
Russia&#39;s track and field team was suspended in separate action by the sport&#39;s governing body, the IAAF, following similar revelations of state-backed doping last year. 
 
&quot;The Russian team may have experienced the toughest checks of the Olympics, because they had to go through multiple tests and checked,&quot; Zhukov said. 
 
&quot;On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic village.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;So as of now, the Russian team is probably the cleanest in Rio.&quot; 
 
Russian swimming great Alexander Popov also hit out at the track and field ban with a personal attack on Britain&#39;s Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF. 
 
&quot;I hope that he will not regret his decision about Russian athletes because as you can say, what goes around comes around,&quot; Popov said of Coe earlier. 
 
&quot;I hope that he will sleep well at night,&quot; he added, in comments to reporters after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. 
 
(AFP)

The three-member International Olympic Committee panel will announce its final figure for the Russian squad later on Thursday

A top Russian official said Thursday that at least 271 athletes would compete in the Rio Olympics after clearing a doping probe which has slashed their team to its smallest size in more than a century. Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said some other cases remained unresolved after investigations prompted by the discovery of a state-orchestrated plot to dupe drugs testers. "As of now 271 athletes have been admitted," Zhukov told a press conference in Rio, saying two track cyclists and freestyle wrestler Viktor Lebidev were among the athletes still in limbo. But he took a swipe at the total ban on Russia's track and field team, which has robbed athletes like pole vault world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva and 110m hurdles world champion Sergey Shubenkov of the chance to compete. Zhukov said it was "unfair" that athletes from other countries who have previously served drugs bans, such as American sprinter Justin Gatlin, will compete in Rio. "We think it's unfair that some Russian athletes like Yelena Isinbayeva and Shubenkov, who have never been accused of doping, are not allowed to compete this time," Zhukov said. "However, in contrast, some other athletes, like the American runner Gatlin, have been admitted to the Games." Russia, who finished fourth on the London 2012 Olympic medals table and have topped the table seven times, will have their smallest team since 1912 at the Rio Games, which open on Friday.Russia entered 387 names for the Olympics but competitors implicated in last month`s bombshell World Anti-Doping Agency report have been eliminated by sports federations. A three-member International Olympic Committee panel which reviewed the list submitted by the federations was due to announce its final figure for the Russian squad later on Thursday. Among 31 swimmers accepted are Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, who were initially banned. Fellow swimmer Yulia Efimova's case is still being examined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. While all Russian weightlifters have been banned, all of the country`s boxers have been allowed to compete. World Sailing has also let a competitor initially banned back into the contest. Russia's track and field team was suspended in separate action by the sport's governing body, the IAAF, following similar revelations of state-backed doping last year. "The Russian team may have experienced the toughest checks of the Olympics, because they had to go through multiple tests and checked," Zhukov said. "On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic village. "So as of now, the Russian team is probably the cleanest in Rio." Russian swimming great Alexander Popov also hit out at the track and field ban with a personal attack on Britain's Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF. "I hope that he will not regret his decision about Russian athletes because as you can say, what goes around comes around," Popov said of Coe earlier. "I hope that he will sleep well at night," he added, in comments to reporters after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. (AFP)

271 cleared for Rio after drugs probe, says Russia

Nita Ambani has become the first Indian woman to be nominated as a member of the International Olympic Committee, following the introduction of a new selection process. 
 
The IOC confirmed Ambani&#39;s nomination along with seven others on its website Friday, saying it was a part of its strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic movement. 
 
Ambani, 52, will formally become an IOC member in elections slated for August 2-4 just before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 
 
A founder and chairperson at the Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of conglomerate Reliance Industries, she is married to Mukesh Ambani, the country&#39;s richest man. 
 
She is also the principal owner of the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. 
 
The Indian Olympic Association said Ambani&#39;s presence on the IOC would give a big boost to sports in the country. 
 
&quot;We welcome Nita Ambani&#39;s nomination. It is great for India and we hope... Indian sports will benefit from it,&quot; IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told AFP. 
 
Despite being the world&#39;s second-most populous nation, India has a poor Olympic record, in part because of squabbling federations and mostly inept officials. 
 
Dogged by doping scandals and escalating costs, the IOC in 2014 passed sweeping reforms as part of a push to make Olympic Games cheaper to stage, as well as to bolster the credibility of the organisation. 
 
IOC president Thomas Bach said he hoped the eight new candidates would make great contributions to the Olympic movement, in comments posted on the IOC website. 
 
&quot;They have been vetted by new criteria in keeping with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020. 
 
&quot;These candidates will add extra strength and diversity to our already universal orchestra of IOC members,&quot; Bach said. 
 
(AFP)

Ambani has become the first Indian woman to be nominated as a member of the International Olympic Committee

Nita Ambani has become the first Indian woman to be nominated as a member of the International Olympic Committee, following the introduction of a new selection process. The IOC confirmed Ambani's nomination along with seven others on its website Friday, saying it was a part of its strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic movement. Ambani, 52, will formally become an IOC member in elections slated for August 2-4 just before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. A founder and chairperson at the Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of conglomerate Reliance Industries, she is married to Mukesh Ambani, the country's richest man. She is also the principal owner of the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. The Indian Olympic Association said Ambani's presence on the IOC would give a big boost to sports in the country. "We welcome Nita Ambani's nomination. It is great for India and we hope... Indian sports will benefit from it," IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told AFP. Despite being the world's second-most populous nation, India has a poor Olympic record, in part because of squabbling federations and mostly inept officials. Dogged by doping scandals and escalating costs, the IOC in 2014 passed sweeping reforms as part of a push to make Olympic Games cheaper to stage, as well as to bolster the credibility of the organisation. IOC president Thomas Bach said he hoped the eight new candidates would make great contributions to the Olympic movement, in comments posted on the IOC website. "They have been vetted by new criteria in keeping with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020. "These candidates will add extra strength and diversity to our already universal orchestra of IOC members," Bach said. (AFP)

Nita Ambani, Indian businesswoman, nominated to IOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed 29 Russian swimmers to take part in the Rio Olympic Games, R-Sport news agency cited swimming&#39;s world governing body FINA as saying today. 
 
Swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, as well as female swimmer Yulia Efimova are not on the list, however, the agency reported. 
 
Lobintsev and US-based Morozov were part of Russia&#39;s bronze-medal winning 4x100m freestyle team at the London 2012 Games, while Lobintsev also won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at Beijing 2008. Efimova is a four-times breaststroke world champion. 
 
The IOC has allowed the whole Russian synchronised swimming team and the Russian female water polo team to take part in the Olympics, R-Sport said. 
 
(Reuters)

Swimmers Vladimir Morozov, Nikita Lobintsev and female swimmer, Yulia Efimova, are not on the list

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed 29 Russian swimmers to take part in the Rio Olympic Games, R-Sport news agency cited swimming's world governing body FINA as saying today. Swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, as well as female swimmer Yulia Efimova are not on the list, however, the agency reported. Lobintsev and US-based Morozov were part of Russia's bronze-medal winning 4x100m freestyle team at the London 2012 Games, while Lobintsev also won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at Beijing 2008. Efimova is a four-times breaststroke world champion. The IOC has allowed the whole Russian synchronised swimming team and the Russian female water polo team to take part in the Olympics, R-Sport said. (Reuters)

IOC clears 29 Russian swimmers to compete in Rio, says news agency

Less than a week before the opening of the Olympics, International Olympic Committee leaders will meet in Rio de Janeiro this weekend to review the final preparations for the games and deal with the fallout from the doping scandal that has led to the exclusion of more than 100 Russian athletes. 
 
The IOC&#39;s ruling executive board opens a two-day meeting today, its last formal gathering before next Friday night&#39;s opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium. 
 
The meeting comes less than a week after the IOC board decided not to ban Russia&#39;s entire team from the games because of state-sponsored doping. Rejecting calls by more than a dozen anti-doping agencies for a complete ban on Russia, the IOC left it to individual sports federations to vet which athletes could compete or not. 
 
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said on Friday that, so far, 272 of the country&#39;s athletes had been cleared by international federations, out of an original team of 387. 
 
More than 100, however, have been barred, including the track and field team banned by the IAAF and more than 30 other athletes rejected under new IOC eligibility criteria. 
 
The IOC has been roundly criticised by anti-doping bodies, athletes groups and western media for not imposing a total ban on Russia. 
 
Pressure for the full sanction followed a World Anti-Doping Agency report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren that accused Russia&#39;s sports ministry of overseeing a vast doping conspiracy involving the country&#39;s summer and winter sports athletes. 
 
IOC president Thomas Bach has defended the decision as protecting individual athletes from collective punishment. 
 
&quot;This is a decision we just had the opportunity to discuss with some athletes,&quot; Bach said in Rio. &quot;I think the general feeling is that it is appreciated that, on the one hand, we are sanctioning a (doping) system, but on the other hand we have given athletes who were not part of the system the opportunity to demonstrate this and then to be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games.&quot; 
 
Rio&#39;s preparations, meanwhile, remain clouded on several fronts, including budget cuts, raw sewage that pollutes the sites of rowing, sailing, canoeing, open water swimming and triathlon, slow ticket sales, and concerns over crime and the Zika virus. 
 
The games come with the president awaiting an impeachment trial and the country gripped by a severe recession. 
 
The Australians and at least eight other Olympic teams complained this week about their accommodations in the athletes&#39; village, citing plumbing leaks, electrical faults and dirty conditions. 
 
On Friday, Australian athletes and staff had to be evacuated from their building after a small fire broke out in the basement. They returned safely after about 20 minutes. 
 
&quot;In the end you will see a fantastic Olympic Village and great games,&quot; Bach said. &quot;The Brazilians will overwhelm all of us with their passion, with their joy of life, their great hospitality, and with their energy.&quot; 
 
The &nbsp;IOC will hold a three-day session next week, starting Tuesday. A top item on the agenda is Wednesday&#39;s vote on a recommendation to add five sports to the program of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics -- baseball/softball, surfing, karate, skate boarding and sport climbing. 
 
The proposed sports - backed by the executive board and to be voted on as a package - would add 18 events and 474 athletes to the program. 
 
An IOC program commission report released on Friday said the five sports are a blend of the traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, and all have international and local appeal. 
 
(PTI)

Rio's preparations remain clouded on several fronts, including budget cuts, raw sewage, concerns over crime and Zika virus

Less than a week before the opening of the Olympics, International Olympic Committee leaders will meet in Rio de Janeiro this weekend to review the final preparations for the games and deal with the fallout from the doping scandal that has led to the exclusion of more than 100 Russian athletes. The IOC's ruling executive board opens a two-day meeting today, its last formal gathering before next Friday night's opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium. The meeting comes less than a week after the IOC board decided not to ban Russia's entire team from the games because of state-sponsored doping. Rejecting calls by more than a dozen anti-doping agencies for a complete ban on Russia, the IOC left it to individual sports federations to vet which athletes could compete or not. Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said on Friday that, so far, 272 of the country's athletes had been cleared by international federations, out of an original team of 387. More than 100, however, have been barred, including the track and field team banned by the IAAF and more than 30 other athletes rejected under new IOC eligibility criteria. The IOC has been roundly criticised by anti-doping bodies, athletes groups and western media for not imposing a total ban on Russia. Pressure for the full sanction followed a World Anti-Doping Agency report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren that accused Russia's sports ministry of overseeing a vast doping conspiracy involving the country's summer and winter sports athletes. IOC president Thomas Bach has defended the decision as protecting individual athletes from collective punishment. "This is a decision we just had the opportunity to discuss with some athletes," Bach said in Rio. "I think the general feeling is that it is appreciated that, on the one hand, we are sanctioning a (doping) system, but on the other hand we have given athletes who were not part of the system the opportunity to demonstrate this and then to be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games." Rio's preparations, meanwhile, remain clouded on several fronts, including budget cuts, raw sewage that pollutes the sites of rowing, sailing, canoeing, open water swimming and triathlon, slow ticket sales, and concerns over crime and the Zika virus. The games come with the president awaiting an impeachment trial and the country gripped by a severe recession. The Australians and at least eight other Olympic teams complained this week about their accommodations in the athletes' village, citing plumbing leaks, electrical faults and dirty conditions. On Friday, Australian athletes and staff had to be evacuated from their building after a small fire broke out in the basement. They returned safely after about 20 minutes. "In the end you will see a fantastic Olympic Village and great games," Bach said. "The Brazilians will overwhelm all of us with their passion, with their joy of life, their great hospitality, and with their energy." The IOC will hold a three-day session next week, starting Tuesday. A top item on the agenda is Wednesday's vote on a recommendation to add five sports to the program of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics -- baseball/softball, surfing, karate, skate boarding and sport climbing. The proposed sports - backed by the executive board and to be voted on as a package - would add 18 events and 474 athletes to the program. An IOC program commission report released on Friday said the five sports are a blend of the traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, and all have international and local appeal. (PTI)

IOC executive board to review final preparations for Rio Games

Russian drug cheats will be competing at next month&#39;s Rio Olympics, the whistleblowers who helped uncover the country&#39;s doping scandal have told the BBC. 
 
Vitaly Stepanov, who worked for Russia&#39;s anti-doping agency, and his wife, former drugs cheat Yulia Stepanova, helped lift the lid on Russian doping in a series of documentaries by German broadcaster ARD. 
 
Their evidence led to a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which uncovered widespread doping in Russian athletics, and was followed by the McLaren report. 
 
The latter found Moscow had concealed hundreds of positive doping tests in many sports ahead of the Sochi Games. 
 
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided not to impose a blanket ban on Russia competing in Rio. 
 
The Stepanovs said yesterday that the IOC&#39;s stance of leaving governing bodies to decide whether Russians could take part in the Games meant there would be Russian athletes in Rio whose cheating had previously been covered up. 
 
&quot;Others that have been covered up over the past years by the Russian sports authorities, they will compete as supposedly clean athletes,&quot; the pair said in a joint BBC interview. 
 
&quot;As the report said it involved 20 summer Olympic sports, this system of cover ups, so yes there will be athletes who have used doping from Russia in Rio.&quot; 
 
The couple have fled Russia and are living in hiding at an undisclosed location in North America, after they provided evidence of doping. 
 
The IOC decided on Sunday not to impose a total ban on Russian competitors despite the country&#39;s doping history. 
 
They asked sports federations, however, to stop Russian athletes from competing in Rio who were implicated in the McLaren report, or had been previously sanctioned. 
 
This dashed Stepanova&#39;s hopes of running at the Games as an independent athlete, which Vitaly said was unfair. 
 
&quot;You didn&#39;t really have a choice if you wanted to be a member of the national team,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;She has served her ban, fully served her ban, she thinks that she should not be punished a second time for something that she did in the past.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The verdict against blanket ban on Russia means there will be athletes in Rio Games whose cheating had been covered up, the couple said

Russian drug cheats will be competing at next month's Rio Olympics, the whistleblowers who helped uncover the country's doping scandal have told the BBC. Vitaly Stepanov, who worked for Russia's anti-doping agency, and his wife, former drugs cheat Yulia Stepanova, helped lift the lid on Russian doping in a series of documentaries by German broadcaster ARD. Their evidence led to a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which uncovered widespread doping in Russian athletics, and was followed by the McLaren report. The latter found Moscow had concealed hundreds of positive doping tests in many sports ahead of the Sochi Games. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided not to impose a blanket ban on Russia competing in Rio. The Stepanovs said yesterday that the IOC's stance of leaving governing bodies to decide whether Russians could take part in the Games meant there would be Russian athletes in Rio whose cheating had previously been covered up. "Others that have been covered up over the past years by the Russian sports authorities, they will compete as supposedly clean athletes," the pair said in a joint BBC interview. "As the report said it involved 20 summer Olympic sports, this system of cover ups, so yes there will be athletes who have used doping from Russia in Rio." The couple have fled Russia and are living in hiding at an undisclosed location in North America, after they provided evidence of doping. The IOC decided on Sunday not to impose a total ban on Russian competitors despite the country's doping history. They asked sports federations, however, to stop Russian athletes from competing in Rio who were implicated in the McLaren report, or had been previously sanctioned. This dashed Stepanova's hopes of running at the Games as an independent athlete, which Vitaly said was unfair. "You didn't really have a choice if you wanted to be a member of the national team," he said. "She has served her ban, fully served her ban, she thinks that she should not be punished a second time for something that she did in the past." (Reuters)

Russian whistleblowers: Drug cheats will compete in Rio

Russian Yulia Efimova, who has been banned from competing at next month&#39;s Rio Olympics by swimming&#39;s international governing body FINA, will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), her agent said yesterday. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve taken the decision to appeal to CAS. The opponent will be the International Olympic Committee, FINA and the Russian Olympic Committee,&quot; Efimova&#39;s agent Andrei Mitkov told R-Sport. 
 
FINA yesterday banned seven Russians, including 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Efimova, from competing in Rio in the fall-out from Russia&#39;s rampant state-run doping. 
 
FINA was the first sport to impose bans in light of Sunday&#39;s International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision, which ruled against a blanket ban on all Russian competitors in Rio, instead leaving it up to individual sports federations to decide whether to accept Russians. 
 
Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, both 4x100m freestyle bronze-medal winners with the Russian team at the 2012 Olympics, and Efimova, who won bronze in the 200m breaststroke in London, were among the seven banned. 
 
Efimova had been provisionally suspended by FINA in March after testing positive for the banned drug meldonium, which has been prohibited since January. 
 
FINA lifted Efimova&#39;s suspension in May after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that athletes could escape a ban because it does not know exactly how long it takes for meldonium to leave the body. 
 
The 24-year-old is also four-time world champion in the breaststroke. 
 
(AFP)

International Swimming Federation yesterday banned seven Russians from competing in Rio Olympics after Russia's state-run doping was exposed

Russian Yulia Efimova, who has been banned from competing at next month's Rio Olympics by swimming's international governing body FINA, will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), her agent said yesterday. "We've taken the decision to appeal to CAS. The opponent will be the International Olympic Committee, FINA and the Russian Olympic Committee," Efimova's agent Andrei Mitkov told R-Sport. FINA yesterday banned seven Russians, including 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Efimova, from competing in Rio in the fall-out from Russia's rampant state-run doping. FINA was the first sport to impose bans in light of Sunday's International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision, which ruled against a blanket ban on all Russian competitors in Rio, instead leaving it up to individual sports federations to decide whether to accept Russians. Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, both 4x100m freestyle bronze-medal winners with the Russian team at the 2012 Olympics, and Efimova, who won bronze in the 200m breaststroke in London, were among the seven banned. Efimova had been provisionally suspended by FINA in March after testing positive for the banned drug meldonium, which has been prohibited since January. FINA lifted Efimova's suspension in May after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that athletes could escape a ban because it does not know exactly how long it takes for meldonium to leave the body. The 24-year-old is also four-time world champion in the breaststroke. (AFP)

Russian swimmer Efimova to appeal Rio ban to Sport Arbitration Court

US anti-doping chiefs blasted the International Olympic Committee for creating &quot;a confusing mess&quot; over the Russian doping scandal, claiming they lacked &quot;decisive leadership&quot; by opting against a blanket Rio ban for Russia. 
 
The IOC decided against an all-out ban over state-run doping and left international sports federations with the job of clearing athletes for the Games which start on August 5. 
 
&quot;Disappointingly, in response to the most important moment for clean athletes and the integrity of the Olympic Games, the IOC has refused to take decisive leadership,&quot; said Travis T Tygart, the chief executive of USADA, the American anti-doping body. 
 
&quot;The decision regarding Russian participation and the confusing mess left in its wake is a significant blow to the rights of clean athletes.&quot; 
 
&quot;It is so frustrating that in this incredibly important moment, they would pass the baton to sports federations who may lack the adequate expertise or collective will to appropriately address the situation within the short window prior to the Games. The conflict of interest is glaring.&quot; 
 
USADA also hit out at the decision to ban doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova from taking part in the Olympics. 
 
&quot;The decision to refuse her entry in to the Games is incomprehensible and contrary to CAS precedent. The attempt to enforce it will undoubtedly deter whistleblowers in the future from coming forward,&quot; said Tygart. 
 
(AFP)

The US anti-doping body also hit out at the decision to ban doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova from taking part in the Olympics

US anti-doping chiefs blasted the International Olympic Committee for creating "a confusing mess" over the Russian doping scandal, claiming they lacked "decisive leadership" by opting against a blanket Rio ban for Russia. The IOC decided against an all-out ban over state-run doping and left international sports federations with the job of clearing athletes for the Games which start on August 5. "Disappointingly, in response to the most important moment for clean athletes and the integrity of the Olympic Games, the IOC has refused to take decisive leadership," said Travis T Tygart, the chief executive of USADA, the American anti-doping body. "The decision regarding Russian participation and the confusing mess left in its wake is a significant blow to the rights of clean athletes." "It is so frustrating that in this incredibly important moment, they would pass the baton to sports federations who may lack the adequate expertise or collective will to appropriately address the situation within the short window prior to the Games. The conflict of interest is glaring." USADA also hit out at the decision to ban doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova from taking part in the Olympics. "The decision to refuse her entry in to the Games is incomprehensible and contrary to CAS precedent. The attempt to enforce it will undoubtedly deter whistleblowers in the future from coming forward," said Tygart. (AFP)

US anti-doping CEO: Russia verdict blow to rights of clean athletes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today decided not to hit Russia with a blanket ban for the Rio Games over state-run doping, but said each sports federation needed to establish a competitor&#39;s individual eligibility.&nbsp; 
 
Federations &quot;should carry out an individual analysis of each athlete&#39;s anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of the athlete&#39;s sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field,&quot; the IOC said in a statement. 
 
It comes after the IOC held showdown talks on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant doping that sparked the Olympic movement&#39;s worst crisis in decades. 
 
The Russian athletics team was already banned from Rio for state-sponsored doping. 
 
An independent report last week for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Russia&#39;s sports ministry directed a vast doping programme with support from the state intelligence agency that saw thousands of tainted urine samples destroyed or swapped for clean ones.&nbsp; 
 
The cheating affected 30 sports and went on during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major Olympic and international events, according to the WADA report last week by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren.&nbsp; 
 
The Games begin on August 5. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

This comes after the International Olympic Committee held showdown talks on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant doping

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today decided not to hit Russia with a blanket ban for the Rio Games over state-run doping, but said each sports federation needed to establish a competitor's individual eligibility. Federations "should carry out an individual analysis of each athlete's anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of the athlete's sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field," the IOC said in a statement. It comes after the IOC held showdown talks on whether to ban Russia from the Rio Games over rampant doping that sparked the Olympic movement's worst crisis in decades. The Russian athletics team was already banned from Rio for state-sponsored doping. An independent report last week for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Russia's sports ministry directed a vast doping programme with support from the state intelligence agency that saw thousands of tainted urine samples destroyed or swapped for clean ones. The cheating affected 30 sports and went on during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major Olympic and international events, according to the WADA report last week by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren. The Games begin on August 5. (AFP)

No blanket ban for Russia for Rio games: IOC

The International Olympic Committee reported 45 new doping failures today from the 2008 Games in Beijing and London 2012, bringing the total number of positive drug test to 98 since a retesting programme was launched. The IOC, facing one of its worst-ever doping crises that could see sporting powerhouse Russia banned from the Rio Games, has reanalysed more than 1,200 samples, with the emphasis on medal winners. 
 
Reporting results from its second wave of retests, the IOC said there were 30 &quot;Provisional Adverse Analytical Findings&quot; from competitors in Beijing 2008 and 15 &quot;Adverse Analytical Findings&quot; among London 2012 Olympians. Within the Beijing group, 23 were medallists, the IOC said. The 30 positive results came from eight countries and four sports. 
 
The second wave of retests from London included 138 samples. The 15 positive tests were from nine countries and two sports. The IOC said it was not able to identify the athletes concerned, citing legal reasons. &quot;The new reanalysis once again shows the commitment of the IOC in the fight against doping,&quot; Olympics president Thomas Bach said in a statement. 
 
The IOC has said the retesting programme followed &quot;intelligence-gathering&quot; that began last year. The new results may pile more pressure on the IOC as it faces making the unprecedented move of banning an entire country from a Games over doping. 
 
Two reports from the World Anti Doping Agency have detailed rampant, state-run drug cheating by Russia, affecting 30 sports. Russia&#39;s track and field team has already been banned from Rio by governing body IAAF.&nbsp; 
 
A dozen global anti-doping agencies and several national Olympic committees have urged the IOC to take exemplary action and rule all Russian competitors ineligible for the Rio Games, which start in two weeks. The IOC said a decision could be made on Sunday. 
 
(AFP)

These results may pile pressure on the IOC to make the unprecedented move of banning an entire country from the 2016 Games for doping

The International Olympic Committee reported 45 new doping failures today from the 2008 Games in Beijing and London 2012, bringing the total number of positive drug test to 98 since a retesting programme was launched. The IOC, facing one of its worst-ever doping crises that could see sporting powerhouse Russia banned from the Rio Games, has reanalysed more than 1,200 samples, with the emphasis on medal winners. Reporting results from its second wave of retests, the IOC said there were 30 "Provisional Adverse Analytical Findings" from competitors in Beijing 2008 and 15 "Adverse Analytical Findings" among London 2012 Olympians. Within the Beijing group, 23 were medallists, the IOC said. The 30 positive results came from eight countries and four sports. The second wave of retests from London included 138 samples. The 15 positive tests were from nine countries and two sports. The IOC said it was not able to identify the athletes concerned, citing legal reasons. "The new reanalysis once again shows the commitment of the IOC in the fight against doping," Olympics president Thomas Bach said in a statement. The IOC has said the retesting programme followed "intelligence-gathering" that began last year. The new results may pile more pressure on the IOC as it faces making the unprecedented move of banning an entire country from a Games over doping. Two reports from the World Anti Doping Agency have detailed rampant, state-run drug cheating by Russia, affecting 30 sports. Russia's track and field team has already been banned from Rio by governing body IAAF. A dozen global anti-doping agencies and several national Olympic committees have urged the IOC to take exemplary action and rule all Russian competitors ineligible for the Rio Games, which start in two weeks. The IOC said a decision could be made on Sunday. (AFP)

IOC finds 45 new doping failures from Beijing, London Games

Russia insisted today that it expects to avoid a blanket ban from the IOC on its competitors at the Rio Olympics despite its track and field squad losing an appeal over a suspension for state-sponsored doping. 
 
&quot;All sportsmen who have not been convicted or are not under suspicion of doping should have the right to compete. That is the decision we are counting on,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 
 
The International Olympic Committee&#39;s executive board are to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss banning Russia from the Rio Games starting on August 5. 
 
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday ruled against Russia&#39;s athletes in a decision seen as a key indicator as the IOC debates whether to kick out the whole Russian team. 
 
The IOC is facing international pressure to act tough on Russia and ban the entire team over bombshell revelations of a state-run doping system that has seen the country cheat its way to victory. 
 
Fourteen national anti-doping agencies including the United States, Canada and Germany sent a joint letter to IOC President Thomas Bach on Thursday urging him to ban Russia from Rio. 
 
Officials in Moscow have slammed the decision by CAS to reject its appeal against a ban from the world athletics body IAAF, calling it part of a broader political campaign by the West against Russia. 
 
The suspension of the track and field team already means that star athletes like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and hurdler Sergey Shubenkov will not be in Rio. 
 
Isinbayeva who has threatened to call time on her career over the ban slammed the CAS ruling as a &quot;funeral for athletics.&quot; 
 
Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko who has clung on despite the scandal said Moscow now hopes the IOC will defer to individual international sporting federations to decide whether other Russian squads can compete. 
 
Cold War 
 
The CAS ruling has been the focus of Olympic attention since an independent WADA report this week said Russia ran a &quot;state-dictated failsafe system&quot; of drug cheating in 30 sports at the 2014 Sochi Games and other major events. 
 
But Russia has found support from some international sports bodies, with the International Judo Federation (IJF) insisting all clean athletes should be allowed to take part in Rio. 
 
&quot;We hope that by allowing participation of Russian athletes in Rio 2016, we will send out a positive message to all the young people who deserve to be given examples of friendship instead of examples of Cold War,&quot; said IJF president Marius Vizer. 
 
Individual Russian federations said they were now looking nervously ahead for the IOC to make its next move. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re all in suspense waiting for the IOC decision,&quot; wrestling federation president Mikhail Mamiashvili told AFP. 
 
&quot;I hope that the common sense and personal responsibility of those who will take the decision will prevail.&quot; 
 
The IAAF banned all of the Russian track and field team over allegations of state-sponsored doping but said athletes who prove they were not tainted by their country&#39;s corrupt system could be cleared. 
 
The IAAF has only gave permission for one Russian team member to compete as a neutral is US-based long jumper Darya Klishina to compete in Rio. 
 
The IOC has appeared to back the principle that international sporting federations could clear individual athletes in case of a blanket ban but with just two weeks to go until Rio time is slipping away. 
 
The Russian press had widely predicted that CAS would decide against Moscow and reaction was a mixture of soul-searching and criticism over systemic failings. 
 
&quot;They accused us of setting up a system in the country based on doping and we didn&#39;t react at all to these accusations,&quot; wrote daily Sovietsky Sport. &quot;That&#39;s why they&#39;re banning us.&quot; 
 
&quot;Alas, everything that is happening with our sports is the fruit of our own errors,&quot; a column in usually pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda said, citing years of mismanagement. 
 
&quot;It is far from certain that even the current apocalyptic storm will force us to change our sport. Maybe only if the IOC buries our team on Sunday.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

International Olympic Committee's executive board are to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss banning Russia from the Rio Games

Russia insisted today that it expects to avoid a blanket ban from the IOC on its competitors at the Rio Olympics despite its track and field squad losing an appeal over a suspension for state-sponsored doping. "All sportsmen who have not been convicted or are not under suspicion of doping should have the right to compete. That is the decision we are counting on," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The International Olympic Committee's executive board are to hold a conference call on Sunday to discuss banning Russia from the Rio Games starting on August 5. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday ruled against Russia's athletes in a decision seen as a key indicator as the IOC debates whether to kick out the whole Russian team. The IOC is facing international pressure to act tough on Russia and ban the entire team over bombshell revelations of a state-run doping system that has seen the country cheat its way to victory. Fourteen national anti-doping agencies including the United States, Canada and Germany sent a joint letter to IOC President Thomas Bach on Thursday urging him to ban Russia from Rio. Officials in Moscow have slammed the decision by CAS to reject its appeal against a ban from the world athletics body IAAF, calling it part of a broader political campaign by the West against Russia. The suspension of the track and field team already means that star athletes like pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and hurdler Sergey Shubenkov will not be in Rio. Isinbayeva who has threatened to call time on her career over the ban slammed the CAS ruling as a "funeral for athletics." Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko who has clung on despite the scandal said Moscow now hopes the IOC will defer to individual international sporting federations to decide whether other Russian squads can compete. Cold War The CAS ruling has been the focus of Olympic attention since an independent WADA report this week said Russia ran a "state-dictated failsafe system" of drug cheating in 30 sports at the 2014 Sochi Games and other major events. But Russia has found support from some international sports bodies, with the International Judo Federation (IJF) insisting all clean athletes should be allowed to take part in Rio. "We hope that by allowing participation of Russian athletes in Rio 2016, we will send out a positive message to all the young people who deserve to be given examples of friendship instead of examples of Cold War," said IJF president Marius Vizer. Individual Russian federations said they were now looking nervously ahead for the IOC to make its next move. "We're all in suspense waiting for the IOC decision," wrestling federation president Mikhail Mamiashvili told AFP. "I hope that the common sense and personal responsibility of those who will take the decision will prevail." The IAAF banned all of the Russian track and field team over allegations of state-sponsored doping but said athletes who prove they were not tainted by their country's corrupt system could be cleared. The IAAF has only gave permission for one Russian team member to compete as a neutral is US-based long jumper Darya Klishina to compete in Rio. The IOC has appeared to back the principle that international sporting federations could clear individual athletes in case of a blanket ban but with just two weeks to go until Rio time is slipping away. The Russian press had widely predicted that CAS would decide against Moscow and reaction was a mixture of soul-searching and criticism over systemic failings. "They accused us of setting up a system in the country based on doping and we didn't react at all to these accusations," wrote daily Sovietsky Sport. "That's why they're banning us." "Alas, everything that is happening with our sports is the fruit of our own errors," a column in usually pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda said, citing years of mismanagement. "It is far from certain that even the current apocalyptic storm will force us to change our sport. Maybe only if the IOC buries our team on Sunday." (AFP)

Russia braces for IOC ruling after CAS bans athletics squad

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