Russia loses Rio appeal -
(July 21 2016)
Russia has lost its appeal against the decision to ban its athletics team from the Rio Olympics.
The Russian Olympic Committee and 68 individual athletes lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport - sport's highest court - when athletics' world governing body the IAAF upheld a global competition ban against the Russian athletics federation that has been in place since November.
That sanction was imposed after a damning World Anti-Doping Agency report into widespread doping in Russian track and field.
A second WADA-backed investigation has now revealed that a similar doping programme extended to almost all Olympic and Paralympic sports in Russia.
Earlier this week, WADA and others asked the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee to ban Russia entirely from the Rio Games, but both bodies said they needed more time to consider their options.
The IAAF responded to CAS's decision by stating their decision to support the ban would ensure a "level playing field for athletes".
"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," IAAF President Sebastian Coe said in a statement on the IAAF's official website.
"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."