Having your athletes barred from the Olympics because your government stands accused of systematically covering up doping would trigger a political firestorm in many countries, hurting the standing of the person at the top.
Reuters: Doping scandal rocks Russian sport but Putin’s ratings look safe
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 22. President Vladimir Putin on July 22 insisted Russia was committed to wiping out doping in a last-ditch push to avoid a possible blanket ban from the Rio Games over state-run drug cheating.
