Sixty-eight Russian track and field athletes will be banned from the Rio Olympics following allegations of state-sponsored doping.

The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld a ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which came after repeated allegations of mass doping and state-sponsored cover-ups.

The ruling could mean the entire Russian Olympic team is banned from the games, a potentially devastating blow to a nation that prides itself on its international sporting prowess.

Image: Pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva described the decision as a 'funeral' for athletics

The Russian Athletics Federation said it had done everything it could to ensure its team competed at the games and a Kremlin spokesman is considering holding a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Russian athletes.

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Russia's sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, says he will consider what steps to take following the decision, warning that things cannot be left as they are.

Image: Russia's sports minister Vitaly Mutko said the decision cannot be left as it is

The country's pole vaulting champion Yelena Isinbayeva compared the decision to a "funeral of athletics".

Russian track and field athletes were banned from international competition in November after an independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found widespread state-sponsored doping.

Image: Sebastian Coe said he was 'thankful' the anti-doping code has been 'supported'

The ban was imposed by the IAAF which reconfirmed it last month, advising there were still considerable doping problems in Russia.

Responding to news Russia's appeal has been dismissed, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said he was "thankful that our rules and our power to uphold our rules and the anti-doping code have been supported".

Usain Bolt: 'This Will Send A Strong Message'

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who owns the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and the world 200m record of 19.19, said the ruling would send a strong message to "cheaters".

"If you're cheating then I always think it's a good message to show that if you cheat, or if you go against the rules then we're going to take action," he said.

"This will scare a lot of people, send a strong message that the sport is serious, we want to clean the sport up."