Report: Antidoping officials will ask IOC to bar Russia from Olympics

A group of antidoping officials is aiming to bar the entire nation of Russia from the Olympics.

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One month after the International Association of Athletics Federations, track and field’s world governing body, made the unanimous decision to ban Russia’s track and field team from competing in the Olympics, a group of antidoping officials is aiming to bar the entire nation.

Officials from at least 10 countries, along with 20 athlete groups, will request that Russia be barred from the Rio games, Rebecca R. Ruiz of The New York Timesreports.

Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia’s anti-doping labratory, revealed to the Times in May the ways the nation cheated in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. An investigation revealed that at least 15 of the country’s 33 medals were tainted by performance-enhancing drugs.

Russia has countered the allegations with claims that Western countries are trying to smear their image. 

According to the Times, at least 10 national anti-doping organizations, including those in the United States, Germany, Spain, Japan, Switzerland and Canada, will join in to make the request.