LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Rejecting calls by anti-doping officials for a complete ban on Russia, Olympic leaders gave individual sports federations the task of deciding which athletes should be cleared to compete in next month's Rio de Janeiro Games.
Citing the need to protect the rights of individual athletes, the International Olympic Committee decided against taking the unprecedented step of excluding Russia's entire team over allegations of state-sponsored doping. Instead, the IOC left it to 27 international sports federations to make the call on a case-by-case basis.
IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC had decided instead on a set of ''very tough criteria'' that could dent Russia's overall contingent and medal hopes in Rio, where the Olympics will open on Aug.