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IAAF rebuffs Russia’s bid to overturn track ban

At least 104 Russians have been banned from attending the Olympics.

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The two sports that took the biggest hits are rowing and track and field. Swimming has also barred some athletes.

Russia’s banned track and field team are to compete in their own event in the wake of their Rio Olympics ban. Fencing, triathlon and volleyball’s governing bodies have all announced that they will allow participants from the country in Rio.

Mutko, who was named in McLaren’s report for being involved in the cover-up of a footballer’s positive test, has been told to stay away from the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee but posed for selfies with members of the Russian team at the farewell event in Moscow.

The IOC’s response was to pass the responsibility for decisions on Russia’s participation in Rio to the 28 worldwide sports federations that govern each sport in the summer programme.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has consistently exercised a zero-tolerance policy to any cases of doping.

“We get the impression that those who speak this way do not even understand what they are saying”.

Some of those sports bodies have begun taking action – seven Russian swimmers are out, while three Russian archers and the country’s eight tennis players are in.

Australia’s Olympic team chief Kitty Chiller celebrated the news, despite the short notice.

The latest doping scandal to rock Olympic and Russian sport was triggered this month by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), whose report detailed an elaborate doping system directed by the Moscow sports ministry and used in more than 30 sports over four years.

The IOC has ordered a full inquiry into all Russian athletes who competed in Sochi. “There are no grounds for further review”.

All 68 of Russia’s track and field athletes have been banned – though long jumper Darya Klishina has been cleared to compete as a “neutral”.

Yuliya Stepanova is the Russian runner who helped bring to light her nation’s doping program.

But they reassembled in Melbourne last weekend after the possibility of an Olympic call-up because of Russian athletes facing expulsion over doping.

The couple are now contesting the IOC’s decision – which coincided with an invite to watch the games as spectators – responding with an open letter to IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper.

“There are high expectations for these Games because of the passion Brazilians have for sport and their joy of life”, proclaimed President Bach. “We have not asked for a favor, we have asked for a fair and ethical treatment”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Putin had discussed the doping issue with his national security council.

Those barred from competing, Putin says, are victims of “double standards” and a campaign against Russian sports.

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Journalist Katja Kuznetsova filmed some of the Russian team as they arrived at the airport.

Street performers stand in front of Olympic rings on Copacabana Bean in Rio de Janeiro less than two weeks before the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games