There will be many who will express disappointment, even anger, with the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Some already have. Their argument for a total ban rests not just on the scale of Russia’s past violations, not just on the risk of unfair competition continuing at Rio, but on the direct involvement of Russian state institutions, as confirmed by the World Anti-doping Agency's inquiry.

Personally, I am relieved for a host of reasons, but here are a few.

First, the procession of earlier decisions – plus the mobilisation of other athletes calling for a ban in advance of the IOC ruling – pushed Russia into a political corner and allowed it to play the victim. Ordinary Russian sports fans needed no encouragement from any national leaders, or from their state media, to lash out with accusations that it was all about politics. They felt that the sins of the past were being projected on to the future in a way that gave them no way out and no appeal.

Second was the issue of collective guilt and responsibility. All Russian athletes were being tarred with the same brush. Clean Russian athletes resented that deeply and pitted them against the international sports authorities in a way that could become a liability in the future. The Olympics are about individual performance, and always have been, quite as much as or even more than national performance (however it might look from outside). To ban Russia risked traducing that ideal.

Third, for all the resentment expressed by Russian spokespeople following the WADA verdict, the general response from the Russian political hierarchy since the start of the allegations, up to and including President Putin, has been – in my view, as a long-time observer of Russian politics – surprisingly restrained.

Underlying their statements has been an acceptance that doping is both illegal and undesirable, and an acknowledgement that Russia needs to clean up its act. I know this will be dismissed as hypocritical, but I see a divergence, even a clash, between the hoary old men of the Soviet-era sports establishment and Russia today, and a blanket ban on Russia from the IOC would, in no way, foster positive trends in Russian sport.

IOC preserves rare footage of 1904 Olympics

Fourth, there are several, what could be called, ‘procedural issues’ that pose as many questions as they answer. Why, for instance, are Russian athletes training for Rio being penalised for what Russia is alleged to have done at Sochi? The Winter Olympics, where there can be no crossover of the same athletes.

If undetected doping is the issue, then it is London 2012 and Beijing 2008 which need to be the benchmarks (which is what is now happening). What's more, the most serious charges originate with a single Russian sports official, Grigori Rodchenko, who has taken refuge in the US. Single-sourcing is never ideal. His evidence may indeed be unimpeachable, but is there an element of wanting to please his new country?

Fifth, and last, what about the shared responsibility of the IOC, the international federations, and WADA itself? What have all these well-rewarded authorities been doing?

Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 : An England fan kicks a tear gas canister as fans clash with police ahead of the game against Russia GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 : England fans throw bottles and clash with police ahead of the game against Russia GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Flares are lit on the stands after Russia scored a goal during the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, AP Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Supporters clash at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, AP Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 An England fan is arrested after clashing with police ahead of the game against Russia GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Russian supporters charges at England fans in the stands at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia AP Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Russian fan smashes a chair over an England supporter as another attacks him on the ground as they clash ahead of the game against Russia GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Supporters clash at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, AP Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Fans try and escape at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, AP Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Supporters clash at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, AP Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Flares are lit at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Supporters clash at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Supporters clash at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 Fans try and escape at the end of the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Russia, GETTY Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 – in pictures Russia and England fans clash at Euro 2016 england fans clash with police ahead of the game against Russia GETTY

How come Russia's own anti-doping authorities were under so little scrutiny at Sochi? If they were. How many of the new positives can be explained by improvements in detection techniques facilitating retrospective tests, rather than actual failings first time around?

Above all, why – despite the allegations being around for more than a year – has it taken until two weeks before the Rio Olympics for the investigations and decisions to be complete?