IAAF upholds bans on Russian athletes for Rio Games


VIENNA (AP) — The IAAF upheld its ban on Russia's track and field team for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics today in a landmark decision that punishes the world power for systematic doping.

The Russian sports ministry said it was notified of the decision by track and field's world governing body, which ruled that the country had not done enough to earn reinstatement.

The suspension was imposed in November after a report by a World Anti-Doping Agency commission that alleged state-sponsored cheating, corruption and cover-ups in Russian track and field.

The Russian ministry said it was "extremely disappointed" by the decision to ban the entire team from the Rio Games. It appealed to the IOC to "consider the impact that our athletes' exclusion will have on the dreams and the people of Russia."

The International Olympic Committee has scheduled a summit of sports leaders Tuesday to address "the difficult decision between collective responsibility and individual justice."

That meeting could potentially open the door for individual athletes who have never been accused of doping and are deemed to be clean to compete at the games.