World athletics body says ‘no recommendation’ for Russian return

World athletics’ governing body has ruled that Russia has not yet met all the conditions in eradicating doping for a global ban to be lifted in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics, TASS quoted Russian athletics chief Mikhail Butov as saying on Friday. He said the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) would take a decision in May on whether to lift a ban in time for Rio, Reuters reported. Norwegian Rune Andersen, a former director of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), was appointed to lead a five-person task force reviewing Russian reform efforts after its suspension from global competition in November. One of the most important criteria would be the change of anti-doping culture in Russia, and it’s a big task, Andersen was quoted as saying.