It said the IOC’s decision not to act decisively over Russia was a “significant blow” to the rights of clean athletes. The International Olympic Committee faces an unprecedented backlash from anti-doping groups and athletes after it decided not to impose a blanket ban on the Russian team competing in next’s month’s Rio Games. The IOC decision comes after months of agonising in the corridors of international sport about how to deal with the cascade of revelations of state-sponsored doping in Russia. The United States Anti-Doping Agency slammed the IOC’s decision, calling it “incomprehensible” and adding that it would “undoubtedly deter whistleblowers in the future from coming forward”. However, the IOC president, Thomas Bach, insisted it was important to respect the rights of individual athletes.

Source: The Guardian July 24, 2016 14:03 UTC