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IOC ‘passing the buck’ over Russian Rio 2016 decision - Parry

Former Team GB Olympic swimmer Steve Parry criticises IOC over decision not to implement blanket ban for Russian team at Rio 2016.

British Olympic medallist Steve Parry says the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have ‘passed the buck’ in their decision not to implement a blanket ban to Russian athletes for Rio 2016.

The IOC will leave it up to individual sports' governing bodies to decide if Russian competitors are clean and should be allowed to take part.

The decision follows a report in which Canadian law professor Richard McLaren said Russia operated a state-sponsored doping programme from 2011 to 2015.

“What Russia did it just shows the IOC are passing the buck,” said Parry, who won a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly at the 2004 Games.

“No world governing body will ban Russian athletes from their sport.

“We’re now in a situation where Russian athletes who have cheated before can’t compete but all other athletes from around the world who have cheated are allowed to take part.

“What we need to bring back is the rule which meant that anyone who cheated previously could not take part in the Olympic Games and that would bring the integrity back,” Parry added.

This clip is from 5 live Sport, Sunday 24 July 2016.

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