LAUSANNE (AFP) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited 22 Russian and 17 athletes from Belarus to compete as neutrals at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, although several had already opted not to participate.
A second list of names permitted to compete in the July 26-August 11 extravaganza which consisted of tennis, shooting, and rowing athletes.
The first list, issued on June 15, was narrowed down to only wrestling, weightlifting, cycling, and trampoline.
This also includes the first refusals of Russian rider Aleksandr Vlasov and five Belarusians.
Eighteen athletes, however, have already confirmed their participation: three cyclists, three trampoline specialists, two weightlifters, and ten wrestlers.
