CAS upholds Russian athletes ban to IAAFs delight

Russian athletes will not be able to compete at Rio 2016 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) backed a decision to ban them over the country’s alleged state-sponsored doping regime.

Russia’s athletics federation was suspended by the sport’s world governing body, the IAAF, after an independent report found evidence of widespread doping.

The Russian Olympic Committee and 68 athletes appealed against that decision but after hearing evidence from both sides, Cas has ruled the ban can stand.

Following the ruling, world governing body, IAAF released a statement in support of the verdict.

“The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has taken a strong stance on upholding the World Anti-Doping Code without fear and favour and is pleased that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has supported its position.

“Today’s judgement has created a level playing field for athletes. The CAS award upholds the rights of the IAAF to use its rules for the protection of the sport, to protect clean athletes and support the credibility and integrity of competition,” the international athletics body said.

“While we are thankful that our rules and our power to uphold our rules and the anti doping code have been supported, this is not a day for triumphant statements. I didn’t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing. It is our federation’s instinctive desire to include, not exclude.

Beyond Rio the IAAF Taskforce will continue to work with Russia to establish a clean safe environment for its athletes so that its federation and team can return to international recognition and competition,” the statement quoted its president, Sebastian Coe, charging.

The decision will mount pressure on the IOC to ban the entire Russian team from next month’s Summer Games in Rio.

Report from BBC and IAAF