Eight more Russian athletes were allowed to take part in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday bringing the total number to 279.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday described the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rule barring Russian athletes with prior doping sanctions from competing in the Games as "unenforceable." The Lausanne-based court said barring them from the Games "does not respect the athletes' right of natural justice". The IOC earlier approved 271 Russian athletes.

Swimmers cleared

The Independent Panel of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled on Thursday to allow Russian swimmers Nikita Lobintsev and Vladimir Morozov to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The IOC has also cleared other Russian swimmers - Yuliya Yefimova and Natalya Lovtsova, Darya Ustinova, Mikhail Dovganyuk, and Anastasia Krapivina - for taking part in the Olympics, head of Russia’s Olympic delegation Igor Kazikov told TASS.

Russian cyclist Zabelinskaya admitted to Rio

Two-time road cycling medalist at the London Olympics Olga Zabelinskaya has been admitted to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games opening on Friday, secretary general of the Russian Cycling Federation Yuri Kucheryavy told TASS.

Another Russian cyclist Sergei Shilov will also take part in the Games. Russian cyclist Ilnur Zakarin was cleared for the Rio Olympics but he will not participate as he had no possibility to prepare for the Games.

The 31st Summer Olympic Games, the very first for Latin America, will be held in the resort city of Rio de Janeiro between August 5 and 21.