On July 21, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled against Russian athletes, striking down their attempt to repeal a rule banning athletes from the country from international athletics. As a result the Russian athletic team may be banned from the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The decision sparked outrage among fans, athletes and experts alike.
Banning the Russian national team from participating in the upcoming Rio Olympics would further politicize sports and future international competitions, Dimitrios Panagiotopoulos, President of the International Association of Sports Law (IASL), told Sputnik.
"The exclusion of the entire Russian team will give a political dimension to sport, with painful consequences for the future of the major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games," Panagiotopoulos said.
