Rio 2016 Olympics

IOC decision on Russia's Olympics participation 'within a week'

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: July 20 2016 | 14:28

Last updated: July 20 2016 | 22:01

The IOC reveals that it will make a decision on a blanket ban on Russian athletes competing at the Rio Olympics in the next seven days.

Olympics governing body the IOC has confirmed that it will make a decision on whether to ban Russian athletes from this summer's Games in the next seven days.

Russia is facing a total exclusion from the Rio Games following accusations of a state-sponsored doping program at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

IOC president Thomas Bach initiated disciplinary proceedings against officials within the Russian Ministry of Sport on Tuesday and is now seeking legal advice on whether to ban athletes from participating at the Games, which begin in 16 days' time.

"We expect [to have] a decision within seven days on the participation of Russian competitors in Rio," a spokeswoman for the IOC confirmed to reporters on Wednesday.

Russia's track and field athletes have already been prohibited from competing in Rio following a suspension imposed by the IAAF last November.