Banned Russian wrestler can compete

Russia’s two-time world champion Viktor Lebedev has been cleared to wrestle in Rio in the wake of the Russian doping scandal, the head of Russia’s Olympic delegation said Saturday.

“For Viktor Lebedev, all is well,” delegation chief Igor Kazikov told Russian sports agency R-Sport.

He said Lebedev, who appealed against a ban along with other Russian athletes, had been authorised to compete by a special International Olympic Committee commission.

“He has been given authorisation by the IOC commission,” said the official.

The three-member IOC commission has final say on which Russian athletes can compete in the Rio Games after allegations of state-sponsored doping contained in a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency led to wholesale bans.

With Lebedev restored to competition, the Russian delegation is made up of 277 athletes.