The leader of the IOC pledged that he supports reopening the Russian doping case, promising "a fresh look" at the new evidence after allegations that critical lab data was manipulated before it was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
IOC president Thomas Bach spoke Friday at a news conference to kick off the world track and field championships.
He was sitting alongside Sebastian Coe, the president of track's international federation (IAAF), which earlier this week, based partly on the latest developments involving the data, extended the suspension of the organisation that oversees Russia's track program.
Thirty Russians are at the world championships competing as neutral athletes without their flag or anthem.
Bach essentially repeated things everyone already knows that WADA, not the IOC, is in charge of the case, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport available for appeals. He refused to speculate on what Russia's status might be when the Tokyo Olympics start in 10 months.
WADA has given Russia three weeks to explain the manipulation of data from the Moscow lab, which was being used to pursue cases against cheaters at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and other events. Russia's anti-doping agency could face suspension again if tampering is confirmed, though it's unclear what, if any, sanctions would follow from the IOC.
"There is a plan, due process ... and they will come up with the decision within WADA, and the IOC. of course, fully respects these new rules and these procedures," Bach said.
"At this moment, I cannot speculate or comment on what result this procedure from WADA will be."
"We were confronted by a challenge in our sport that was of such a level of seriousness that we had to make a decision," Coe said. "You're all very familiar with the journey we're on. ... Frankly, my main concern was not the flag but actually to try, where possible, to keep (clean) athletes in international competition."
With Russia's anti-doping agency still under suspension, and with cases piling up, the IOC banned Russia's Olympic Committee from the 2018 Winter Games, but let Russians compete nonetheless not under their own flag but under the heading "Olympic Athlete from Russia."
"And, while clean athletes' feeling of anger and despair from the leaders' past decisions will not simply be erased, there now appears another defining moment to actually stand up for the good of sport and the Olympic values."
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