Sergei Litvinov confident Russia will be able to compete at Rio Olympics

Sergei Litvinov believes the ban on Russian athletes competing will be overturned

Russian hammer thrower Sergei Litvinov, who formerly competed for Germany, believes his country's athletes will be permitted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to compete at the Rio Olympics.

The IAAF banned Russia's track and field athletes last year after a World Anti-Doping Agency report uncovered systematic state-sponsored doping within the country.

The ban was extended last month, which ultimately ruled Russian athletes out of next month's Olympics, subject to an appeal by the CAS, which will be decided on Thursday.

"From a legal point of view, we have very good chances," the 30-year-old said.

Litvinov, who won bronze at the 2014 European Championships, would be one of Russia's biggest hopes for a medal in Rio but with three weeks to go he still does not know if he can compete.

Litvinov has asked IAAF President Sebastian Coe to explain the criteria needed for Russian athletes to compete in internationally

At the end of June, Litvinov wrote a letter to IAAF president Sebastian Coe, asking him to explain the criteria needed for Russian athletes to compete in international events.

"My letter wasn't directly addressed to Coe, but was more to those living in the West," said the athlete, who is coached by his father Sergei Litvinov, who won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul in the hammer.

"People should understand just how absurd our situation is. I think this letter helped. I got through to people that we need help (from)," he said.

Litvinov does not think the IAAF's actions are "politically motivated" but said it was impossible even for clean athletes to show they are not part of the Russian system.

Russian long jumper Darya Klishina was permitted to compete as a neutral at Rio

On July 10, the IAAF's Doping Review Board turned down applications from 67 Russian athletes to compete internationally as "neutrals". Only long jumper Darya Klishina, who is based and tested in the United States, got approval.

"The IAAF's decision on July 10 admitted that no one will be able to defend the reputations of those sportsmen who are clean," he said.

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In the 2008-2009 season, the Rostov native competed for Germany. However, he has no regrets about returning to Russia in order to compete for the country of his birth.

He said: "My family are in Russia and my son was born here. Everything that happens is for the better and I never planned to return to the West."