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Russian doping scandal debated at IOC meeting in Rio

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach speaks during the opening ceremony of the 129th International Olympic Committee session, in Rio de Janeiro on August 1, 2016, ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool Photo via AP)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach speaks during the opening ceremony of the 129th International Olympic Committee session, in Rio de Janeiro on August 1, 2016, ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool Photo via AP) International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach speaks during the opening ceremony of the 129th International Olympic Committee session, in Rio de Janeiro on August 1, 2016, ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool Photo via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – IOC President Thomas Bach is asking the full committee to support the decision to reject a complete ban on Russian athletes for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Bach opened the International Olympic Committee’s three-day general assembly Tuesday with another defense of the executive board’s handling of the Russian doping scandal.

He again pointed blame at the World Anti-Doping Agency for failing to act sooner on evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russia, and said it would be wrong to make individual athletes “collateral damage” for the wrongdoing of their government.

Citing the strong criticism that the IOC has faced for deciding not to impose a full ban on Russia, Bach told the approximately 100 members “we are asking you for your support today for the decision we have taken.”