"This letter calls upon the IOC to instigate a wholesale ban of the Russian Olympic Committee team in Rio 2016. LOS ANGELES - A North American-led campaign to ban Russia from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics has opened up an international divide on how to deal with the doping scandal engulfing Russia. Hickey said he was alerted to the move when the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency's athletes commission sent out an appeal for backing for the campaign. "If Monday's report confirms the Rodchenkov allegations, then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will have no choice but to ban all Russian athletes from this summer's Olympic Summer Games in Rio," Melia wrote. - Fair and due process -"It is clear that only athletes and organisations known to support a ban of the Russian Olympic team have been contacted," he said.

Source: Bangkok Post July 16, 2016 21:45 UTC