IAAF upholds Olympic ban for Russia's Track and Field athletes

Russia’s track and field athletes will not be allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics.

The IAAF on Friday after a meeting in Vienna upheld a ban following an alleged state-sponsored doping scandal.

The ban was imposed in November following a report by a World Anti-Doping Agency commission that alleged the sponsorship, cover-ups and corruption.

Russian officials claim they have met the conditions for reinstatement, but a new WADA report released on Wednesday, cast doubts over the country’s compliance and violations of drug-testing in Russia.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko wrote an open letter aimed at persuading the IAAF, adding it was extremely disappointed by the decision to uphold a ban of all Russian track-and-field athletes from international competition and the Rio Olympics.

“Clean athletes’ dreams are being destroyed because of the reprehensible behaviour of other athletes and officials.

“We have done everything possible since the ban was first imposed to regain the trust of the international community. We have nothing to hide and feel we had met the IAAF’s conditions for re-entry,” it said in a statement.

Russian Ministry of Sport “extremely disappointed..athletes dreams are being destroyed…we now appeal to the IOC” pic.twitter.com/BYxFMESJxX

— Dan Roan (@danroan) June 17, 2016

Two time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva intends to challenge the ban.

However, there is a life line for some Russian Athletes when IOC officials and anti-doping bodies meet next week to consider whether and if individual athletes should be given individual justice.

Individual Russian athletes should be allowed to compete as neutrals if can convincingly show not tainted by Russian system, says IAAF

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) June 17, 2016

IAAF task force head Rune Andersen says only tiny crack in the door for 'clean' Russian athletes pic.twitter.com/ty0FA1AJEU

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) June 17, 2016

Russian Doping Reforms

• Introduced independent testing
• Introduced additional testing
• Overhauled the Russian Anti-Doping Agency
• Overhauled the Russian Athletics Federation
• Introduced stricter rules for doping
• Introduced lessons on anti-doping in schools