The International Olympic Committee will explore its legal options over the possibility of banning all Russian athletes for the Rio Olympics following the publication of an independent investigator's report on doping allegations in the country.
An independent commission organized by the World Anti-Doping Agency and headed up by Richard McLaren on Monday delivered a report that deemed Russia to be guilty of operating a state-dictated system to protect doped athletes.
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WADA recommended a complete ban of Russian competitors submitted by their committees from the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games following the publication of the report, which concluded that the government, security services and sporting authorities of the country colluded to hide doping across a range of sports.
The IOC's executive board met Tuesday to discuss potential sanctions for Russia, with track and field athletes from the country already subject to a suspension from the IAAF that prevents them from participating in Rio next month.
The executive board decided that disciplinary actions related to the involvement of officials within the Russian Ministry of Sports and other persons mentioned in the report due to violations of the Olympic Charter and WADA code would start immediately. The IOC said it will not grant accreditation to any official of the Russian Ministry of Sport or anyone implicated in the report for the Games in Rio.
The IOC also revealed that it will "explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice" while reiterating its hope that international sports federations determine the eligibility of athletes "based on an individual analysis of his or her international anti-doping record."
Russian track and field athletes who maintain they are not guilty of wrongdoing will learn on Thursday if they have successfully appealed the IAAF ban. The IOC said that verdict would be taken into consideration in regards to a potential ban on all athletes from the country competing in Brazil.
The organization also stated that it will not organize or give patronage to any sports event or meeting in Russia, including plans for the European Games 2019 to be staged in the country.
Guy Canivet, vice-chair of the IOC Ethics Commission, has been named chair of the IOC disciplinary commission, with Robin Mitchell, Yang Yang, Andrew Ryan and Wolfgang Schobersberger also appointed.