LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — IOC President Thomas Bach has refused to be drawn on whether the Olympic body could allow some Russian athletes to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Games even if the country's track and field team remains banned over state-sponsored doping allegations.
The International Olympic Committee has scheduled a summit of sports leaders on June 21 to harmonize policy on eligibility for the games. The meeting will come four days after the IAAF decides whether to maintain or lift its suspension of Russia's track and field athletes from global competition.
Bach says he "cannot speculate" on whether the IOC could clear the way for Russian athletes who are deemed to be clean and have never been accused of doping to compete in Rio, even if the IAAF keeps its blanket ban.