Russia To Miss Rio Olympic

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on 11th March extended the ban on Russia from international competition, raising fears that the athletics powerhouse might miss out on the Rio Olympics. A five-strong IAAF taskforce led by Norwegian Rune Andersen, a former director of the World Anti-Doping Agency said that Russia's Olympic quest will likely be decided at an extraordinary Council meeting in May. The job of the Council is to make sure that those athletes who are going to the Olympics are clean and are in systems that are based upon integrity. Andersen acknowledged, praising the Russian federation for changing the president and its council and introducing anti-doping education programmes, but questioning delayed verification process of athletes and coaches.