Following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision not to impose a blanket ban on Russians competing at the Rio Olympics, Russia's embattled sports minister Vitaly Mutko said on Sunday (24th July) that he hoped the majority of international sports federations would support Russian sportsmen and women hoping to compete at the Games.

SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaly Mutko, Russian sports minister:

"80 per cent of our sportsmen already undergo international testing (of the kind specified in the IOC criteria), and of course each has their own (doping) dossier, so I hope most international federations will quickly confirm the right of these sportsmen in whatever sporting category, to take part in the Olympic Games."

"As far as the criteria for the selection of the Russian national team on the eve of the Olympics are concerned, these criteria are of course very tough but this is a particular challenge for our team and I can say I am absolutely sure that the majority of the Russian national team will fulfil these criteria."

"I regret hugely the fact that the majority of athletes, at least a majority of the national team, would easily fulfil even these tough criteria, but the (anti-doping) criteria given by the IAAF were impossible to fulfil."