Some Russian Olympians could compete under their own flag

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP):

Some Russian track and field athletes could be competing under their own flag at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after all.

Leaders of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and track's world governing body appeared split yesterday over the terms of participation of any Russian athlete cleared to compete at the August 5-21 Games.

While upholding last week's International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decision to ban Russia's track team for systematic doping, Olympic leaders did not accept the federation's position on a key issue: that a neutral flag would represent the few athletes given dispensation to apply to compete if they live outside Russia and have undergone rigorous testing.

IOC President Thomas Bach said if any Russians are deemed eligible by the IAAF, they would compete under the Russian flag.

OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ENTRIES

"If there are athletes qualified, then they will compete as members of the team of the Russian Olympic Committee because only a national Olympic committee can enter athletes to the Olympic Games," Bach said. "There are no teams of international federations there. And the Russian Olympic Committee is not suspended."

The IAAF appeared caught off guard by Bach's comments, insisting its position had been accepted by Olympic leaders and saying it will work with the IOC to make sure it is "respected and implemented in full".

The sharp differences between the IOC and the IAAF emerged after a summit of Olympic leaders called by Bach to follow up on the IAAF's decision to ban Russia and to take further steps to ensure a "level playing field" for athletes in all sports at the Rio Games.

The leaders called for drug testing of individual Russian and Kenyan athletes across all sports, warning that evidence of inadequate doping controls in those countries could lead to more

teams being barred from the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The leaders also called on authorities to pursue sanctions not only against athletes, but against doctors, coaches, officials and other personnel implicated in doping.

Bach also lamented "deficiencies" in global drug-testing and urged the World Anti-Doping Agency to hold a special conference next year to address the problems.

"It has to be more transparent," Bach said. "Everybody has to understand better who is doing what and who is responsible for what and this needs a full review."