• RUGBY IOC uphold Russia’s Rio Olympics ban

RUSSIA’S ban from the 2016 Rio Olympics was upheld yesterday, as the doping cloud that hovers over the country got ominously darker.

The International Olympic Committee didn’t shut the door completely on athletes, though, as it stated that they could still compete on a neutral, individual basis, provided they were tested and came out clean.

The decision to uphold the ban, first implemented in November last year after accusations of state-sponsored doping, was met with fury from Russia, with President Vladimir Putin also throwing his weight into the matter.

“It is unjust and unfair. The people who have nothing to do with violations, why should they suffer for those who committed the violations?” Putin said in a statement.

“There are universally recognised principles of law and one of them is that the responsibility should be always personified. If some of the members of your family have committed a crime, would it be fair to hold all the members of the family liable, including you? That is not how it’s done.”

Putin was not the only Russian authority to react to the confirmation of the suspension, with Russia’s Ministry of Sport also releasing an emotional statement on the matter.

“Clean athletes’ dreams are being destroyed because of the reprehensible behaviour of other athletes and officials. They have sacrificed years of their lives striving to compete at the Olympics, and now that sacrifice looks likely to be wasted.

“We have done everything possible since the ban was first imposed to regain the trust of the international community. We have rebuilt our anti-doping institutions, which are being led by respected international experts.

“Our athletes are being tested by the UK’s anti-doping agency (UKAD), and every one of them is undergoing a minimum of three tests in addition to the usual requirements. We have nothing to hide and feel we have met the IAAF’s conditions for re-entry,” the ministry said.

Individual athletes, i n cluding Russia’s pole- vault queen, Yelena Isinbayeva, threatened to take action against the blanket ban.

“We are blamed for something we have not done. I will not remain silent, I will take measures. I will appeal to the human rights court,” the 34-year-old double Olympic champion told the BBC.

The ban has already been felt in South Africa, with the recent Comrades Marathon completed without the usual, strong Russian flavour.

The ongoing Russian saga is yet another hurdle that the Rio Olympics has on its agenda, with the acting governor of Rio declaring a state of financial disaster, in light of a recession and the crippling costs of hosting the international showpiece.

The Rio Olympic Games start in a little over a month, on August 5.