Pressure to act in wake of alleged state-sanctioned doping scheme

The International Olympic Committee barred Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko from the Rio Games and withdrew backing for international events in Russia over a state-run doping program, but has delayed ruling on a complete ban on the country until after a key court case on Thursday.

With the Rio Games due to start on Aug 5, the IOC executive committee held emergency talks on Tuesday on what Olympic president Thomas Bach called a "shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and on the Olympic Games" by the Russian government.