Russians unlikely to compete in Rio Olympics
European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen says he doesn't expect Russia to return to international competition in time for Rio Olympics.
Russian track and field federation was banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations for alleged involvement in widespread doping.
"For the moment they have to fulfil the conditions, but I cannot really see them competing in Rio," Hansen said.
An IAAF task force will visit Russia in early January.
"For the moment they have to fulfil the conditions, but I cannot really see them competing in Rio," Hansen said.
The IAAF task force will have its report back at the IAAF Council's meeting in Cardiff, Wales, on 27 March.
"They must have a cultural change," Hansen told AthleticsWeekly.com . "They must get rid of all those people from before.
"We know some good people in Russian athletics and I'm sure they will be elected. We hope that some new people will come in who really understand that this must be changed."
