Russian athletes plead to be allowed to compete in Rio (Yahoo Sports)

Russian athletes pleaded Wednesday to be allowed to compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, making their case two days before the IAAF decides whether to lift its ban on the country’s track and field team. The Russian Olympic Committee athletes’ commission sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach asking for ”your support in upholding” the right of clean athletes to take part in the games. Russia was suspended from international track and field by the IAAF in November after a World Anti-Doping Agency report alleged widespread, state-sponsored doping.