Athletics: Russia given longer to prove anti-doping progress

Sergey Shirobokov of Russia celebrates with the Russian flag. Photo / Getty Images

Russian athletics has been given a longer than expected period to prove it has made enough progress in reforming its anti-doping operation so it can take part in the Rio Olympics

The International Association of Athletics Federations says at its next meeting in June the Russian situation will be discussed and almost certainly decided.

Russia, second behind the United States in the athletics medal table at the 2012 London Olympics, is banned from all athletics after an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency revealed widespread state-sponsored doping.