DHAKA: Russia will have 271 athletes eligible to compete at the Rio Games, says the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This is more than two-thirds of their original entry list of 389 athletes, despite the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) recommending a blanket ban after a doping scandal, reports the BBC.

Russia's Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said his country will have “the cleanest team” at the Games.

The Olympics opening ceremony takes place on Friday.

“The Russian team may have experienced the toughest checks of the Olympics, because they had to go through multiple tests and checked,” said Zhukov.

“On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic Village.

“So, as of now, the Russian team is probably the cleanest in Rio.”

BDST: 0631 HRS, AUG 05, 2016
SR