CAS rejects Russia appeal, bars athletes from Rio

The international sports tribunal on Thursday rejected an appeal by 67 Russian athletes seeking to overturn an IAAF doping ban on them competing at the Rio Olympics. 

The ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is seen as a key indicator as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) debates whether to order a blanket ban on Russia over accusations of state-run doping. CAS said it had “dismissed” an appeal by the Russian Olympic Committee and 67 athletes against a ban ordered by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). 

The 67 included two time pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva. The IAAF ban covers all international competition, including the Rio Games which start August 5, and follows an investigation last year which found widespread “state-sponsored” doping. Originally, 68 Russians had appealed against the IAAF ban but the IAAF has cleared US-based long jumper Darya Klishina to compete in Rio as a neutral.