Rio 2016: Russia ‘sorry’ for cheats but should be allowed to compete

“These are men and women who have sacrificed years of their lives striving to compete at the very highest level, who have dreamed of taking part in the Olympic Games, and who now face having their sacrifice wasted and their dreams shattered,” he said.

“The reasons for the All-Russian Athletics Federation being suspended from the IAAF have been well documented.

“They are weighty. Serious mistakes have been made by the federation management, along with athletes and coaches who have broken anti-doping rules and neglected the principle of fair play, so fundamental to sport, for immediate benefits.

“Let us be clear. We are ashamed of them.”

However, Mutko stopped short of admitting the doping scandal was state sponsored.

“We are very sorry that athletes who tried to deceive us, and the world, were not caught sooner. We are very sorry because Russia is committed to upholding the highest standards in sport and is opposed to anything that threatens the Olympic values,” he said.