RIO DE JANEIRO -- IOC President Thomas Bach issued another defense of his handling of the Russian doping scandal Monday, saying the decision not to exclude the entire Russian team from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics was based on human rights and justice.Bach used his speech at the opening ceremony of the IOCs general assembly to address the continuing criticism of the Olympic bodys response to evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russia, declaring that individual athletes cannot be punished for the wrongdoing of their government.This decision is about justice, Bach said. Justice has to be independent from politics. Whoever responds to a violation of the law with another violation of the law is destroying justice.Rejecting calls from anti-doping bodies for a total ban on Russia, the IOC instead gave international sports federations the authority to rule on the entry of individual Russian athletes. The IOC also ruled that any Russian athletes with prior doping sanctions could not compete in the Rio Games, which open Friday.While more than 100 Russians -- including the track and field team -- have been banned from the games, more than 250 have so far been cleared to compete by the federations.We had to take the necessary decisions, Bach said. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, we could not uphold the presumption of innocence for Russian athletes. On the other hand, we cannot deprive an athlete of the human right to be given the opportunity to prove his or her innocence.You cannot punish a human being for the failures of his or her government if he or she is not implicated. These principles are now being implemented, he added.The IOCs rejection of a full ban has been harshly criticized by many anti-doping bodies, athletes groups and Western media.Calls for a blanket ban grew after Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, who was commissioned to investigate by the World Anti-Doping Agency, issued a report accusing Russias sport ministry of orchestrating a vast doping scheme involving athletes in more than two dozen winter and summer sports.If proven true, such a contemptuous system of doping is an unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and on the Olympic Games, Bach said. With the Olympic Games just a few days away, we had to take action even though the McLaren report is not yet finished and the Russian side has not been heard yetWe took immediate measures to shed full light on the allegations and more actions and sanctions will follow if necessary.Bach spoke at a ceremony ahead of the IOCs 129th session, a three-day assembly starting Tuesday.He expressed support for South Americas first Olympics, whose build-up has been overshadowed by Brazils political and economic crises and concerns over Zika, water pollution, crime and budget cuts.It has been a long and testing journey to get to this point, Bach said. It is no exaggeration to say that the Brazilians have been living through extraordinary times. The political and economic crisis in the country is unprecedented. It goes without saying that this situation has made the final preparations for the Olympic Games challenging.In a time when the country is divided politically, economically and socially, the transformation of Rio de Janeiro is truly historic. Rio de Janeiro would not be where it is today, without the Olympic Games as a catalyst.---AP Sports Writer Mauricio Savarese contributed. Nike Sneakers Cheap China . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Nike Sneakers Discount Wholesale . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. http://www.wholesalesneakersnike.com/ . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Buy Nike Sneakers Wholesale . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Nike Sneakers Clearance Sale . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. RIO DE JANEIRO -- The pole vault world-record holder was banned. The hometown favorite didnt make it through qualifying.It was all perfectly set up for Jenn Suhr to win another Olympic gold medal.It didnt happen.The American couldnt overcome a respiratory infection that left her dizzy, coughing up blood earlier in the day and throwing up twice near the pole vault area during the competition.Suhr ended up tied for seventh Friday in an event won by Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece. Sandi Morris of the United States finished with silver and Eliza McCartney of New Zealand wound up with bronze.I feel horrible, said Suhr, who captured Olympic gold four years ago in London and silver at the 2008 Beijing Games. Im actually getting concerned. Its going on Day 10, and I feel worse today.Her next stop: home to New York get treatment for this mysterious illness.They think its respiratory and now in the lungs, Suhr said. This morning I was coughing up blood. Its getting scary.I just want to get out of here and go home and figure it out.Just when the path to another gold medal appeared wide open, too.Suhrs top competitor was supposed to be Yelena Isinbayeva, the world-record holder who has been banned from the Games, along with dozens of otherr Russians, because of a doping investigation.dddddddddddd Isinbayeva called it quits Friday as she focuses on a new career in sports politics and even mulls over an offer to lead the Russian track and field team.Also missing from the field was Fabiana Murer, the Brazilian who was expected to get in the mix for a medal but didnt make it out of qualifying.Its such a crappy feeling to know youve worked four years for this and for this to happen, Suhr said. Its embarrassing, too.Early on, Suhr thought she felt OK enough to compete. While warming up, she was clearing the bar at 4.90 meters, which wouldve won this competition. It didnt carry over into the final. Stefanidi and Morris both cleared the same height -- 4.85 -- but Stefanidi had fewer misses.I was like, Im on, Suhr said. After warm-ups, everything shut down. My muscles -- Ive never had them shake.Morris said she could tell her teammate didnt feel well.She just looked pretty dreary. I dont know how else to say it, Morris said. She just didnt look energetic. I really feel for her. Its just an unfortunate circumstance to get sick at this time. ' ' '