The grand opening of any International Olympic Committee (IOC) session is normally largely ceremonial, with speeches often full of pleasantries and platitudes.

many members and was greeted largely in silence ©Getty ImagesThe Soviet Union's official news agency TASS

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe is to write to Russia's new Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin warning him that his country's athletes will not be allowed to compete at this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo unless its sport's leaders admit charges of breaking anti-doping rules.

coming years," world pole vault champion Anzhelika Sidorova told Russia's official state news agency TASS

to this letter, is the last chance to return Russian athletes to the international arena," she told TASS

Russian snowboarder Nikita Avtaneev had his two-year ban for failing to report his whereabouts multiple times confirmed by the Russian Snowboarding Federation (RSF).

out-of-competition doping tests within a period of 12 months, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS

Oleg Matytsin can help solve the crisis in Russia following the doping scandal after he was appointed as the country's Sports Minister, several leading officials in the nation have claimed.

and the Minister can help deal with it," Ganus said, according to Russia's official state news agency TASS

as one of the best in history," double Olympic ice hockey gold medallist Fetisov said, according to TASS

I know both of them - these are high-level managers, super-managers, very competent," she told TASS

Russia have accused UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) of creating "a wall of mistrust" after they revealed they would block any attempts by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to seize samples given by Sir Mo Farah during an investigation into athletes trained by the Briton's disgraced former coach Alberto Salazar.

everyone," RUSADA deputy general director Margarita Pakhnotskaya told Russia's official state news agency TASS

Australia required extra-time to edge out Syria and make the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Championship semi-finals in Thailand.

Spectators at Rajamangala Stadium witnessed an incredibly tense quarter-final, with few clear-cut chances.A Tass

Outgoing World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Sir Craig Reedie has claimed the organisation will defend its decision to impose a range of sanctions on Russia with the "utmost vigour" at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

such as the Olympic Games.RUSADA director general Yury Ganus told Russia's official state news agency TASS

Swiss law firm Schellenberg Wittmer have been appointed by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) to lead its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a ban that could prevent the country from competing under its own flag at next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, it was revealed today.

will be represented by different legal firms," Pozdnyakov told Russia's official state news agency TASS

Charter," Pozdnyakov told delegates during a session of the ROC Executive Committee in Moscow today, TASS

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel has suggested he could work in Russia when he steps down from his role next year.

latter period of his office was disrupted by World War Two.Asked by Russia's official state news agency TASS

Olympic Committee from Pyeongchang 2018 following allegations of state-sponsored doping.Fasel told TASS

your President the first time in 1999 at the same time here [in Moscow], so it’s 20 years," Fasel told TASS

The weakness of all this kind of decisions and sanctions is that politics is involved," Fasel told TASS

Middle-distance runner Ilnaz Minigaleyev has become the latest Russian athlete to be banned, it has been announced.

following a recommendation from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, the country's official state news agency TASS

Russian snowboarder Nikita Avtaneev received a two-year ban from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency after failing to report his whereabouts multiple times.

out-of-competition doping tests within a period of 12 months, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has confirmed it will appeal the decision from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to restrict the country's participation at major events, as punishment for the manipulation of the Moscow Laboratory data.

but it also goes against common sense," Putin said, according to Russia's official state news agency TASS

Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) President Vladimir Drachev is hopeful sanctions imposed on the country by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will not come into force before the World Championships in Italy in February.

According to Russia's official state news agency TASS, Drachev said there as a "chance" Russian biathletes

Reigning Olympic and world champion Alina Zagitova has rejected rumours that she is retiring from figure skating after announcing a season-long break.

interview and about ending my career," Zagitova said, as reported by Russia's official state news agency TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decision to ban his country from competing under its own flag at the Olympic Games is against the Olympic Charter and will be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

anti-Russian hysteria that has already grown chronic," he told Russia's official state news agency TASS