Russia claims the IAAF's decision to continue to ban its athletes is unfair and is threatening legal action, while the rest of the world is welcoming the move and urging the IOC not to go against it.
"We are extremely disappointed by the IAAF's decision, creating the unprecedented situation of a whole nation's track and field athletes being banned from the Olympics," said the Russian ministry of sport on Friday.
"We now appeal to the members of the International Olympic Committee to not only consider the impact that our athletes' exclusion will have on their dreams and the people of Russia, but also that the Olympics themselves will be diminished by their absence."
The IAAF voted unanimously to uphold its ban on Russia for systematic doping, saying the country had not made enough progress on reforms to dispel concerns of state-sponsored abuse.
IAAF President, Lord Sebastian Coe (Reuters)
The Russian athletics federation blamed the media, saying: "The pressure which we experienced in the last few days ahead of the council meeting ... doubtlessly influenced the decision."
Yelena Isinbayeva, who had hoped to seek a third Olympic pole vault gold in Rio and who is one of Russia's most prominent athletes, described it as a violation of human rights.
Yelina Isinbayeva (Getty)
Banned Russian athlete Mariya Savinova (Reuters)
"I will not be quiet, I will take steps. I will go to the human rights court. I will prove to the IAAF and WADA that they made the wrong decision," she said, referring to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The United States Olympic Committee has described the move as a step in the right direction.
Stephanie Hightower, president of US Track and Field and an IAAF Council member, said it was "the only proper course of action given the compelling and powerful evidence presented to Council".
There was some sympathy elsewhere too for innocent Russian athletes, with American Olympic decathlon silver medallist Trey Hardee saying: "Sad day for Russian athletes. The people in charge should be punished, they created the culture of dope".
A statement from European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said it would be "unfair to allow the impression that doping is a problem confined to Russia or to athletics".
Many individual athletes, however, have been quick to take to social media to give their support for the ban.
Reuters
