IOC disappointed, surprised as ban on Russian athletes lifted

Pyeongchang (South Korea), Feb 5 International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach has expressed disappointment and surprise after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the suspension on doping charges of 28 Russian athletes.

"We would never have expected this," said the 64-year-old said at a news conference here. Bach also coined the statement releasead by the CAS, "extremely unsatisfactory given the gravity of the cases".

"We feel this decision shows the urgent need for reforms in the internal structure of CAS," he was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

The IOC chief notified that the body might appeal against the decision once he understands the reasons which made CAS take its decision.