• IOC seeks legal advice over blanket ban versus athletes’ rights to justice
• McLaren report had revealed extent of Russian cover-up

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has said the withdrawal of the top men from the Olympic golf tournament at the 2016 summer Games in Rio de Janeiro will be taken into account when evaluating the sport’s future on the Olympic programme.

Russia's suspension from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will remain in place after a failure to meet criteria required by the body's Task Force.

Brazilian President Michel Temer has promised next month's Olympic Games will show the world "one of the major global economies at work in a mature democracy" in a special welcome message designed to alleviate growing fears with just 30 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016.

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Sebastian Coe has been accused of being aware of corruption at the heart of the world governing body before his election last August and he accepted advice from disgraced official Papa Diack during his successful campaign.

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) WELCOMES AND SUPPORTS THE IAAF’S STRONG STANCE AGAINST DOPING. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE IOC’S LONG-HELD ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY.