Russian track and field team banned from Rio Olympics after doping scandal

The Russian track and field team has been banned from the Rio Olympics following a doping scandal.

(Image credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)

published 17 June 2016

The International Association of Athletics Federations has banned Russia's track and field team from competing in this summer's Rio Olympics after a massive doping scandal, the organization announced Friday. The Russian athletes had been been barred from international competition back in November after a World Anti-Doping Agency report "uncovered a 'deeply rooted culture of cheating at all levels' within Russian athletics," according to CNN.

The IAAF ruled that since the accusations came to light in the November WADA report, the Russians "had not done enough to restore global confidence in the integrity of its athletes," The New York Times reports. Russia has consistently denied the accusations and Vitaly Mutko, the country's sports minister, reportedly claims Russia complied with the IAAF's conditions for reinstatement in time for the 2016 Games.

The International Olympic Committee, which oversees the Olympics, is expected to discuss the banning of Russia on Tuesday — though the Times notes that should the IOC reverse the ban, it would be an "unusual move, as [the IOC has] historically deferred to the governing bodies for specific sports." Another potential option is allowing Russian athletes with zero history of doping to compete. To read more about Russia's widespread state-sponsored doping scandal, click here.