Russia files appeal against doping ban

The Russian Olympic Committee says it has appealed a ban of its athletics team from next month's Olympics over doping.

ROC spokesman Konstantin Vybornov confirmed to The Associated Press by e-mail that a case had been filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and would be heard July 19.

If Russia wins, the Olympic application deadline "will be extended" to let Russian athletes apply, the ROC's legal department head Alexandra Brilliantova told the Tass news agency.

The case is being brought jointly by the ROC and dozens of top Russian athletes.

The IAAF, track's world governing body, suspended Russia in November after a World Anti-Doping Agency report detailed widespread, state-sponsored doping in Russian track and field. The ban was upheld by the IAAF in a vote last month.