Officials from some of the world’s leading anti-doping agencies called for Russian athletes to be banned from next year’s Olympic Games in Rio, saying that there isn’t enough time to ensure the Russian program and its athletes are clean.
The November 16 statement by the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations followed last week’s damning report by investigators that found corruption and systemic violations inside the Russian track and field team and the country’s anti-doping system.
The institute, which represents 53 countries, said the Russian athletics team has not demonstrated it can send a clean team to the Olympics, which begin in August.
Over the weekend, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee reached an agreement with Russian’s Olympic Committee chief on a road map for Russia to become compliant with international rules on doping and testing.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has recommended Russia and its national governing body for athletics be banned from Rio.
And the International Association of Athletics Federations has provisionally suspended Russia from all international competitions in track and field, also known as athletics.