The international ban on Russian athletes will remain after athletics chiefs decided in Vienna yesterday not to lift the suspension that was initially imposed in November.
This effectively bars Russian athletes from competing in the Rio Olympics. The ban followed accusations of state-sponsored doping, despite Russia saying it was "fully committed" to reforms.
Russian athletes are unable to compete in events sanctioned by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Russia now has to rely on being given special dispensation by the International Olympic Committee to compete in the Rio Games. The World Anti-Doping Agency this week said officials in Russia were being stopped from testing athletes.
