Rio Olympics 2016: Russia fails to overturn athlete ban for next month's Games
Yelena Isinbayeva, the 2012 Olympic pole-vault champion, was among the 68 athletes to appeal and may now be unable to defend her title in Rio Russian track and field athletes will remain banned from the Olympics following claims the country ran a state-sponsored doping programme. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 68 Russian athletes attempted to overturn the suspension, implemented by the body that governs world athletics. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) has ruled it can stand. A handful of Russian athletes could still compete as neutrals at the Rio Games, which start on 5 August. "It's sad but rules are rules," said Olympic 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt, who is targeting more gold medals in Rio. He said it was important to send a strong message to the dopers. "Doping violations in track and field is getting really bad," said the Jamaican, 29. "If you cheat or go or against the rules, this will scare a lot of people