Russian Athletics Reportedly Expected to Miss 2016 Rio Summer Olympics

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro may be lacking a presence from one of the world's most prominent countries, as Russia is not likely to be part of the athletics competitions starting in August.

According to an interview with Athletics Weekly (h/t the Associated Press, via CBS News), European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said Russia is not expected to have enough time to meet conditions set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

This follows a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency that found "widespread doping" among Russian athletes that led to the country's being indefinitely banned from competition in athletics.

Speaking to Athletics Weekly, Hansen said the obstacles facing Russia getting the indefinite ban overturned in time for the 2016 Olympics are likely too great:

"

For the moment they have to fulfil the conditions, but I cannot really see them competing in Rio. We will have the first report to the IAAF in March but for the moment they have to really, really put a lot of effort in to compete in Rio. They must have a cultural change. They must get rid of all those people from before.

The system was such that they have a good result and you're paid more. You get paid by the medals, and the coaches, so it's not really good. But I'm sure the good people in Russia will work hard to change this.

"

The IAAF hit Russia athletics with the indefinite ban in November, two weeks after a comprehensive 325-page review by former World Anti-Doping Agency President Dick Pound discovered a "deeply rooted culture of cheating," per Owen Gibson of the Guardian.

"The report found the London 2012 Olympics were 'sabotaged' by the 'widespread inaction' against Russian athletes with suspicious doping profiles by the world athletics governing body and the Russian federation," Gibson wrote.

Pound's report also found Grigory Rodchenko, head of a Moscow lab, "admitted" to destroying over 1,400 drug-test samples in Dec. 2014 "shortly before WADA officials were due to visit."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in the AP and CBS News report he was going to have his sports minister work fully with various anti-doping agencies.

"The struggle with doping in sports, unfortunately, remains a pressing issue and it requires unending attention," Putin said.

Russia has been an athletic power for decades, finishing in the top three in total medals won at the Summer Games in five straight Olympics. The country's potential absence in athletics would certainly open up the field, though it will also hopefully lead to drastic change for Russia given the apparent widespread problems with illegal performance-enhancing drugs.