8 ATHLETES TO MISS RIO UNDER IOC RULE: RUSSIA

MOSCOW: At least eight Russian athletes are set to miss the Rio Games under new IOC rules prohibiting former dopers from competing, Russia’s top Olympic official said.

Alexander Zhukov had said earlier that only eight athletes would be affected, but acknowledged after a meeting of his Russian Olympic Committee that the number would rise. “I think that in the near future we will have full information,” Zhukov said. “I had said eight, but it’s already clear that it’s more.”

While Zhukov did not name the athletes, competitors in swimming, cycling and weightlifting are likely to be affected. He spoke a day after the IOC executive board decided against imposing a complete ban on Russian athletes from the Rio Games over allegations of state-sponsored doping.

AP