President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach has claimed that he expects Russia to compete at Rio 2016, despite calls for the Federation to be banned from all athletics competition due to alleged widespread doping.
A report from a World Anti-Doping Agency independent commission detailed accusations of doping, cover-ups and extortion among Russian athletes and coaches.
It has also been alleged that the Russian government was aware of the cheating, and that more than 1,400 samples were destroyed by a laboratory in Moscow.
WADA wants Russia banned from the Olympics next year, but Bach believes that the Federation will comply with doping regulations and that any punishments will be decided by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
When asked in an interview with New Zealand television if all Russian athletes should be banned, Bach said: "I will not speculate on this. Now we have this enquiry about athletics, the international federation will draw its conclusion and will take the necessary measures.
"We're convinced that the [IAAF] president Sebastian Coe will do whatever is necessary. I think also Russia will cooperate to make progress and to be sure that Russian athletics are compliant with WADA. This is what it needs to be in order to participate in the Olympic Games."
The IOC released a statement yesterday claiming that athletes will be stripped of their medals if the allegations are proved true.
Danielle Joynson
