WADA disappointed with IOC Russia verdict

Niggli: While WADA fully respects the IOC's autonomy to make decisions under the Olympic Charter, the approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonization, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes

WADA president Craig Reedie was disappointed as IOC did not ensure a straight-forward, strong and harmonized approach.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has expressed its disappointment that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided against implementing a blanket ban on Russian athletes at the Rio Olympic Games.

WADA called for the IOC to decline Russian entries for the Rio Games next month following the publication of the a damning report by Professor Richard McLaren, which found that doped athletes representing Russia had been "directed and controlled" at state level. Track and field athletes will not be allowed to compete for the country in Brazil, but the IOC executive board confirmed on Sunday that a full ban will not come into effect.

WADA president Craig Reedie said: "WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA's Executive Committee recommendations that were based on the outcomes of the McLaren Investigation and would have ensured a straight-forward, strong and harmonized approach. "The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code."

WADA director general Olivier Niggli added: "While WADA fully respects the IOC's autonomy to make decisions under the Olympic Charter, the approach taken and the criteria set forward will inevitably lead to a lack of harmonization, potential challenges and lesser protection for clean athletes." The IOC said it will be down to individual sports' governing bodies to rule whether Russian athletes would be permitted to participate in Rio next month.