Speaking to reporters in Sydney, Australia's Chef de Mission for the 2018 Australian Winter Olympic team, Ian Chesterman said the decision would establish a very even playing field at the 2018 games.

Russia was banned from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics after the IOC found evidence of an "unprecedented systematic manipulation" of the anti-doping system. But some invited Russian athletes will be allowed to take part, competing under the Olympic flag.

Ahead of the Rio 2016 Summer Games, the IOC did not impose a blanket ban on Russia but it said on Tuesday  that new evidence had made the doping situation impossible to dispute.
--reuters---