Russia welcomes IOC decision on athletes' participation in Rio Olympics

Photo taken on July 21, 2016 shows the sign of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), at the headquarters of CAS, in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July, 21, 2016. CAS dismissed the appeal by the Russian Olympic Committee against the IAAF Thursday. Under this ruling, 68 Russian track and field athletes who were applying to compete in Rio will not be going to the Olympics.(Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

MOSCOW, July 24 -- Russian Sports Ministry on Sunday welcomed the decision made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Russian athletes' participation in the upcoming Rio Olympic Games.

"The decision made by the IOC was balanced; based on the report of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) independent commission, it is objective and benefiting global sport and unity of the Olympic family. We are grateful to the IOC for such a decision," said Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko.

A report issued Monday by an independent WADA commission accused Russia of running a "state-dictated failsafe system" of drug cheating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major events, and recommended IOC to suspend the whole Russian team from the 2016 Olympics.

The IOC earlier in the day decided not to impose a blanket ban on Russia from the Rio Olympics and let each summer sports International Federation (IF) determine an athlete's eligibility.

According to Mutko, the Russian athletes of the national team would apply to IFs with renegotiations to be carried out quickly.

"I am sure that most of the international federations have no issues with Russian athletes," R-Sport, a sports division of RIA Novosti news agency, quoted Mutko as saying.

The minister also voiced readiness of Russia to reshape the entire anti-doping system, as Russian President Vladimir Putinon Friday proposed to set up a "really independent and public" anti-doping commission.

The ROC has already approved a 387-member team for Rio, while Russian authorities said the country continues to prepare for the Rio 2016 and would protect the legitimate interests of Russian athletes.