Russian Olympic Committee Defends Doping-Free Athletes' Right to Compete

'Clean' sportsmen should not be barred from international competitions, the Russian Olympic Committee said in response to the World Anti-Doping Agency's recommendation to exclude Moscow from the 2016 Olympics.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Wednesday urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to respect the right of doping-free athletes to participate in international competitions.

"The ROC calls on the IOC and the IAAF while considering further steps in light of a WADA report to respect the right of 'clean' athletes to take part in international competitions, which should not be restricted," the ROC said in a statement.

"At the same time, we are firm in our position that anyone who has been caught in the use of banned [doping] drugs, or solicited their application, must be disqualified. If the guilt has been proven, the punishment must be extremely harsh," the ROC statement said.

On Monday, an independent investigative commission, set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), issued a report accusing Russia of numerous violations of global anti-doping codes and recommended the country be banned from international athletics, including the 2016 Olympics.