usa today sports iaaf president sebastian coe speaks during a meeting of the iaaf decision .
( photo : christian hofer , getty images for iaaf ) russia ’s track and field athletes will not be able to compete in the rio olympics , the international association of athletics federations announced friday , but individual athletes do have a way forward to compete as a neutral athlete .
the international association of athletics federations , the governing body for track and field , announced the decision friday , ruling in a unanimous vote that russia had not done enough to restore global confidence in the integrity of its athletes .
“ politics was not playing a part in that room today , ” sebastian coe , the head of the track and field organization , said about the vote friday .
in a historic decision to ban russia 's track and field federation not be reinstated .
but when the rio games begin on aug. 5 , no track and field athletes will compete under the russian flag .
► that the council pass a rule amendment allowing individual athletes who can “ clearly and convincingly ” show they have been subject to effective anti - doping systems and have not been tainted by the russian system be able to apply to compete in international competitions as a neutral athlete .
“ the head coach of the russian athletic team and many of the athletes on that team appear unwilling to acknowledge the nature and extent of the doping problem in russian athletics , and certain athletes and coaches appear willing to ignore the doping rules .
russia won 18 medals in track and field — including eight golds — at the last summer olympics .