Russia divides

Sports over Rio

PARIS – The Olympic movement faces division in a critical week ahead of the Rio Games with a report today to set out whether Russia manipulated doping samples, followed quickly by a sports tribunal verdict on 68 Russian athletes demanding to compete in Rio.

A World Anti-Doping Agency’s decision on whether to let the Rio doping laboratory reopen could also hamper International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) preparations.

“It’s an incredibly important week that could crack the unity built up on doping,” an international sports federation president who is also a senior IOC member said.

A report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren has caused divisions before it is even released in Toronto today, with the US and Canada leading calls for a potential complete ban on Russia from the Rio Games which start on August 5.

Russia is already barred from international athletics by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

But the Court of Arbitration for Sport could rule as early as tomorrow on an appeal by 68 Russian athletes who say they should be allowed to compete in the Rio Games.

Whistle-blower and 800m runner Yuliya Stepanova, who has refused to race for Russia, must wait to see if an Olympic ethics board accepts her request to take part as a neutral.