Isinbayeva tells depleted Russian team to defend honor

FIGHTING back tears, two-time Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva tells Russian athletes going to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics to defend the country's honor.

Isinbayeva spoke at a Russian Olympic team send-off ceremony at the Kremlin on Wednesday, saying that she and other athletes were banned from going to Rio "in a rude manner and without giving us a chance to defend ourselves."

The Court of Arbitration for Sport last week rejected the appeal by Russian track and field athletes against the ban imposed by the IAAF following allegations of state-sponsored doping and cover-ups.

Isinbayeva and other track and field athletes attended the ceremony despite the fact that they are not going to Rio.

She told those going to Rio to "show them what you're able to do — for yourself and for us too."

Discrimination

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Russian track and field athletes are victims of "discrimination" that the country is "not going to put up with."

Putin was addressing athletes at the Kremlin be- fore the Russian Olympic team was due to fly out to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Thursday, while dozens of the track and field athletes who are not eligible to compete in the Rio Games also attended.

Those barred from competing, Putin says, are victims of "double standards" and a campaign against Russian sports.

European hurdles champion Sergei Shubenkov was among those in attendance not eligible for Rio.

Continuing his address, Putin told his audience "your colleagues from other sports powers realize th at the value of their medals will be differ- ent," because "this victory will have a different taste - or no taste at all."

The traditional ceremony, which includes a prayer at a Moscow Kremlin cathedral, began with the laying of wreaths at World War II's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall.

The IAAF has rebuffed Russia's latest bid to overturn the ban on most of its track and field team competing at the Olympics.

Long jumper Darya Klishina is the only athlete eligible to represent Russia out of the 68 who were entered.

Track and field's governing body says it received a letter Tuesday from Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko on Tuesday "requesting a review" but the IAAF responded by saying "there are no grounds for further review."

Fencing

Russian fencers are cleared to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after the sport's governing body found no grounds to exclude any of the team for doping.

The International Fencing Federation announcement was positive news for Russia, which has seen at least 105 athletes from its 387-strong Olympic team banned so far over the country's doping scandal. (AP)