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CAS rejects Russian athletes' Rio 2016 ban appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the appeal of 68 Russian athletes against their ban from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Last November the All-Russia Athletic Federation was suspended by the IAAF amid allegations of state-sponsored doping.

It was confirmed in June by world athletics' governing body that the ban would remain in place, with the Russian Olympic Committee and the group of track and field athletes opting to take the case to CAS.

However, the decision has not gone in their favour, and there remains the possibility Russian athletes from all sports could be banned from featuring in Rio.

This week the IOC said it would explore its legal options surrounding a potential blanket ban on Russian competitors in light of a damning report from professor Richard McLaren, who was enlisted by WADA and found doping had been "directed [and] controlled" at state level.

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Reacting to the decision, IAAF president Sebastian Coe said: "While we are thankful that our rules and our power to uphold our rules and the anti-doping code have been supported, this is not a day for triumphant statements.

"I didn't come into this sport to stop athletes from competing. It is our federation's instinctive desire to include, not exclude.

"Beyond Rio the IAAF Taskforce will continue to work with Russia to establish a clean safe environment for its athletes so that its federation and team can return to international recognition and competition."

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told TASS: "I can express nothing but regret. We will now consider our further steps. I think this decision is biased and somewhat politicised and has no legal grounds."

Long jumper Darya Klishina has been cleared to compete internationally as a neutral athlete by the IAAF after receiving exceptional eligibility to do so.

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Yulia Stepanova, an 800metre runner who served as a whistleblower in helping uncover systemic doping in Russian athletics, also has an exemption, though both her and Klishina's place at the Rio Games are subject to IOC approval.

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