IOC refuses Russian athletes' request to join olympics

But the IOC said Monday its invitation review panel examined applications on behalf of the 15 individuals and had lingering suspicions about potential anti doping violations.

The row leaves russian ladies the IOC, Which has always claimed to give the final say on which athletes compete in the Games, At loggerheads with sports law's highest court just days before the Olympics begin in columbia on February 9.

'Disappointing'IOC president Thomas Bach referred to as CAS decision "Extremely unsatisfactory and surprising,

"We would not have expected this, The 64 year old German told a news achieving in PyeongChang.

Bach used: "The privilege to be invited requires more than just the lack of a sanction,

The IOC will consider whether to appeal against the decision once it has seen the full details behind the ruling.

Bach also claimed your choice "Shows the urgent need for reforms in the inner structure of CAS,

keep away from 2017, The IOC barred Russian athletes from competing in the 2018 Olympics over suggestions of state sponsored doping by Russia in Sochi.

notwithstanding, Russian athletes who can prove they are clean will be invited to compete under a neutral flag, and will also be known as Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR).

They will wear a uniform start name on it, And the Olympic anthem will be played at any medal events for Russian athletes.

The IOC said in a statement the intention of the review panel was "To confirm that athletes will be clean for a potential invitation to the Olympic Winter Games,

It said the panel took into account extra concerning the athletes sent to it by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) which had "Raised hunch about the integrity of these athletes,

At least 168 Russian athletes are engaging in the Games, depending on PyeongChang official website. none of the athletes whose bans were overturned feature in the list.

Further blowIn yet another 11 cases, CAS ruled that doping violations had been committed but that lifetime bans were not justified and the punishments were reduced to a ban for the 2018 Games alone.

The IOC said at that time the CAS decision could have a "Serious impact on the future deal with doping, And added that it could appeal against the decision at the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the country's highest court.

in the meantime, In an additional blow to the anti doping fight, The Sunday Times claims it has seen evidence that suggests well-known blood doping in endurance skiing events between 2001 and 2010.

The tissue, along side German broadcaster ARD, Says associated with skiers, offering some medalists, Have escaped bans despite highly intermittent blood test figures.

WADA has contacted the media outlets to learn more, The anti doping body said in a statement.

"as always, WADA is committed to doing what's necessary to ensure a level game for clean athletes of the world and, for that reason, We take these reports profoundly, Said WADA's home general Olivier Niggli.

Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted there was "instances of doping use in Russia, But said the case was a global problem.

Addressing practitioners last Tuesday, Putin discussed: "There were instances of doping use, True I want the listeners to know this and the whole country to know this, adding up, "There are many such examples more or less anywhere, But no one is making a big show of it.