Rutherford slams '˜spineless' IOC

The long jumper, who holds all four major titles, slammed the governing body for failing to impose a blanket ban on Russia after a wide-spread doping scandal.

The IOC instead left the decision to made on a sport-by-sport basis - a decision which has angered Rutherford.

“We know the pros and the cons of a blanket ban, we know the risks of ‘collective justice’, but we also know the risk of not punishing a culture of doping that comes from the very top,” he said.

“I would say that the latter is a much greater threat to sport. We’ve certainly not been given a clear message of transparency and progress. But no, what we have now is a messy, grey area that doesn’t help anyone.

“This is a spineless attempt to appear as the nice guy to both sides.”

Rutherford will head ot Brazil next month to defend his Olympic title in Rio. The Games get underway on August 5.