Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) spokesman Konstantin Vybornov confirmed to The Associated Press by e-mail that the appeal had been filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and would be heard July 19.

The head of the ROC’s legal department, Alexandra Brilliantova, said that should Russia's appeal succeed, the Olympic application deadline “will be extended” to let Russian athletes apply.

The IAAF, the sport’s global governing body, suspended Russia in November over allegations of widespread, state-sponsored doping in Russian track and field. The ban was upheld by the IAAF in a vote last month.

The appeal follows the announcement earlier in the week that Russian middle distance runner and doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova will be allowed to compete as a neutral athlete, possibly clearing the way for her to take part in Rio.

AP