IOC Upholds Russia Olympic Athletics Ban

The head of the International Olympic Committee has said the organisation supports the decision of the athletics world governing body not to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics.

Thomas Bach also said that any potential competitor from Russia or Kenya - both countries facing serious doping allegations - will need to have extra checks and be individually assessed by their sport's international federation if they want to take part in the Games.

Lorna Shaddick has the reaction from Moscow.

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Collective punishment… the Spanish inquisition… unfair… illegal… these are just some of the ways that politicians, sports officials and athletes here in Russia described the decision last week by the world athletics governing body, to uphold the country's suspension from international track and field competitions.

Many Muscovites seemed to feel the country was being deliberately victimised:

VOX POPS

It's unfortunate that lately politics started affecting sports and that's why our Russian sportsmen are being picked on.

I think it is a provocation, it's an attempt to weaken Russia's reputation.

So many here were bracing themselves for even more bad news when the International olympic Committee met this Tuesday in Lausanne - maybe a ban for all Russian sports, not just athletics, was on the cards.

But in the end - something of a reprieve from Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, for athletes from Russia and Kenya-  

SOT - Thomas Bach, IOC President

Each athlete coming from these two countries will have to be declared eligible by the respective international federation following an individual procedure and an individual evaluation of the situation.

That means Russians COULD compete, if they can pass extra checks by the IAAF before they take part in Rio.

Some here see this as a chance for the country to rehabilitate itself internationally - here's Oleg Shamonayev, a columnist for Russia's Sport Express magazine:

SOT - Super: Oleg Shamonayev, Columnist, Sport Express Magazine (Russia, voiced)

Perhaps it's a good thing after all that there's been a sort of purge, we've been sacntioned, we had to take a look at ourselves. And I think a good result of this would be if all athletes understand we have to fight against doping, not for WADA nor for the IAAF, but for ourselves.

But sprinter Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, the winner of two Olympic silvers and one of 14 Russian athletes accused of doping in Beijing 2008, says morale is now low:

SOT - Super: Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, Russian sprinter

The Olympics only take place once every 4 years. I think an athlete that prepares for the Olympics all their life,  for some it's their only chance to perform there, I think that this decision isn't going to have a good effect on all of our sports.

There's little doubt of the anger felt here in Moscow about the perceived ill treatment internationally, says sports columnist Alan Moore:

SOT - Super: Alan Moore, Sports Columnist

There will be very little introspection done. Russians are not going to grovel and beg to be let back in, and the harder you push, the more resistant they will become.

The loophole allowing Russians to compete under their own flag IF they pass extra checks may restore some national pride. But the jury is out on whether this will be a real watershed in Russia's moves to clean up its sporting act. Lorna Shaddick, Moscow.