Court set to rule on appeal by Russian track athletes

President of Russia's Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov opens the meeting of Russia's Olympic Committee in Moscow, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Zhukov says he expects a final decision by Sunday on whether the entire Russian team will be banned from next month's games in Rio over doping. The International Olympic Committee is examining the legal grounds for possibly banning Russia following allegations that Russian government officials covered up hundreds of drug test failures by their country's athletes. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) President of Russia's Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov opens the meeting of Russia's Olympic Committee in Moscow, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Zhukov says he expects a final decision by Sunday on whether the entire Russian team will be banned from next month's games in Rio over doping. The International Olympic Committee is examining the legal grounds for possibly banning Russia following allegations that Russian government officials covered up hundreds of drug test failures by their country's athletes. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

By Associated Press July 21, 2016 1 min read

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – An appeals court is set to rule on the ban imposed on Russia’s track and field athletes for next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is scheduled to issue a verdict Thursday in the case of 68 Russian track and field athletes seeking to overturn the ban imposed by the IAAF following allegations of state-sponsored doping and cover-ups.

The Russian appeal was heard by a CAS panel on Tuesday.

The appeal questions the validity of the IAAF decision and seeks to ensure the participation in Rio of athletes who are not accused of any doping violation.

The ruling could influence whether the entire Russian Olympic team is banned from the games.