This is because the Court of Arbitration for Sport has approved a decision to ban Russian track and field athletes from the Olympic Games over alleged state-sponsored doping.

The International Association of Athletics Federation had suspended Russia's athletics federation after an independent report found evidence of widespread doping.

The decision was appealed by the Russian Olympic Committee and sixty-eight athletes, before the final ruling after hearing evidence from both sides.

Meanwhile; the International Olympic Committee is separately considering calls to ban all Russian competitors across all sports from the Olympic Games following a second report into state-sponsored doping.

Reacting to the ruling; IAAF President, LORD COE, said it was not a day for triumphant statements, as he was not interested in stopping athletes from competing.

LORD COE said beyond the Rio Games, the IAAF taskforce will continue to work with Russia to establish a clean safe environment for its athletes so that its federation and team can return to international recognition and competition.