Russia loses appeal over IAAF ban

One News reports:

The of Arbitration for Sport has tonight rejected the appeal by 68 Russian track and field athletes seeking to overturn the ban imposed by the IAAF following allegations of state-sponsored doping and cover-ups.

The ruling could influence whether the entire Russian Olympic team is banned from the .

IAAF President Sebastian Coe says he is “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.”

A sad day for the (probably few) clean Russian athletes. But they can still compete if shown to be clean – just not under Russian colours.

Only a team exclusion from the games will give the incentive for Russia to cease the state sponsored doping programme.

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