The International Olympic Committee has postponed a decision on whether to ban the entire Russian Olympic team from the Rio Games but has announced a raft of measures in response to Monday’s report of state-directed doping.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is leading global calls for Russia to be banned from the Rio Olympics and Paralympics after a devastating report uncovered the extent of Russia’s state-directed doping.

The Kremlin yesterday dismissed allegations that Russia had run a sophisticated doping programme at the last winter Olympics as treacherous slander, calling the ex-head of the country’s anti-doping laboratory “a turncoat.”

Russia faces being banned from the Rio 2016 Olympics after an investigation revealed “state-sponsored” doping on a wide scale in one of sport’s biggest ever scandals.

Even though the vexed matter of qualification for the Euro finals in France next year is a much more pressing concern, Ireland will today learn their qualifying destiny for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 when the preliminary draw takes place in St Petersburg, kicking off at 4pm Irish time.

Sepp Blatter’s attendance at the Women’s World Cup final in Canada next week appears to be in jeopardy due to the twin investigations into Fifa by American and Swiss justice authorities.

Russia is to cut the budget for hosting the 2018 World Cup as part of plans to slash state expenditure as recession looms.

UEFA president Michel Platini’s vision of a European Championship spread across the continent came to fruition in Geneva yesterday, as Wembley Stadium was chosen to host the climax of Euro 2020 with 12 other cities — including Dublin — joining the party.

UEFA president Michel Platini has said he is fed up with politicians calling for a boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia over Moscow’s actions towards Ukraine.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has claimed the controversy over the country’s anti-gay law is “an invented problem” by Western mass media.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge could face tricky questions about Russia’s anti-gay laws when he makes an appearance on the eve of the World Athletics Championships in Moscow today.

The 11 host cities for the 2018 World Cup in Russia have been announced.

They just can’t let it go.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has today questioned the judging at the London Olympics, specifically Katie Taylor’s 10-8 win over Russia’s Sofya Ochigava in the women’s boxing final on Thursday.

IT SEEMS to be no longer a question of if but when Guus Hiddink leaves his position as manager of Ireland’s European Championship Group B top seeds Russia.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink will not lead another team to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, the Dutchman has revealed.

Chelsea’s players are beginning to increase the clamour for Guus Hiddink to stay in charge of the team on a permanent basis.

AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti today emerged as the main contender for the Chelsea job at the end of the season.

Frank Rijkaard’s agent insists the Dutchman would “consider” the Chelsea manager’s job and would not be scared off by the ruthless reputation of club owner Roman Abramovich.

Guus Hiddink’s agent expects his client will speak to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over the managerial vacancy at the London club following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

England face another stiff European challenge for the right to host the 2018 World Cup after Russia signalled their intent to bid for the tournament.

The Russian government today urged English football fans to behave “respectfully” at next week’s Champions League final.

The Russia camp have blasted England’s ’excuse making’ ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier on an artificial pitch in Moscow.

A TOP Russian soccer official has accused the political establishment of interfering in forthcoming elections to replace the country’s long-serving football chief Vyacheslav Koloskov.