The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has a clear policy to protect clean athletes and punish those who dope, president Thomas Bach has said.

In comments following the provisional suspension of the Russian athletics federation, Bach said  Sunday that Russia could overcome its doping crisis ``but not undamaged.’’
The IOC will not hesitate ``to impose extensive sanctions against those concerned - especially exclusion from future Olympic Games,’’ he said from IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In reference to Russia's current doping issues, Bach said: ``The policy of the IOC is completely clear: punishment of those who dope and their backers, protection for athletes who are clean. And that should apply worldwide to everybody.’’

The International Athletics Federation  council on on Nov. 13 provisionally suspended the Russian federation for an indefinite period, which could include the Aug. 5 to Aug. 21, 2016  Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.