The International Olympic Committee has opted not to impose a blanket ban on Russians competing in Rio de Janeiro next month. The IOC was considering the sanction in light of the latest report into state-sponsored Russian doping, and the Court of Arbitration for Sports decision to uphold a ban on 68 of the countrys track-and-field competitors.But it will now be down to individual sports federations to decide if their Russian members can go to Rio, although the IOC board has provided a list of criteria that must be met between now and the start of the Games on August 5. No athlete guilty of a previous doping offence will be allowed to compete, even if he or she has served the sanction. The head of cyclings governing body Brian Cookson backs the IOCs decision not to introduce a blanket ban on Russia at the upcoming Olympics And federations must carry out an individual analysis of each athletes anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests.All athletes cleared to compete must have their places upheld by an expert from CAS list of independent arbitrators and will then be subject to a rigorous additional out-of-competition testing programme.IOC president Thomas Bach defended the decision to open the door to some Russian participation, saying: Its fine to talk about collective responsibility, but at the end of the day you have to be able to look in the eyes of every athlete concerned. Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said he was grateful for the IOC decision And Russias sports minister Vitaly Mutko said: We are very grateful to the executive committee for the decision.We do realise the complexity of problem that faced the IOC when they got the report. We do understand the need to discuss the problem, but we are grateful that when the committee considered the right of each athlete they realised that those who are clean from doping have the right to participate.The World Anti-Doping Agency had led calls for a blanket ban this month after a report it commissioned uncovered evidence of systematic manipulation of urine samples at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.Russias anti-doping agency was already suspended in the wake of previous findings, and the International Association of Athletics Federations took the decision in November to ban the countrys track-and-field competitors from international action.Speaking after the IOC verdict, IAAF boss Seb Coe said his organisation was ready to advise other sports between now and Rio.We have created and been through the process, he said. We know how hard it is emotionally and rationally to get the process right. Yuliya Stepanova has been invited to the Rio Games but will not be allowed to compete Yuliya Stepanova, meanwhile, the 800m runner whose evidence first alerted the authorities to state-sponsored doping in Russia, has been told she cannot compete in Rio as a neutral athlete.The IOC board sought the advice of its Ethic Commission, which said the circumstances in which she denounced the doping practices which she had used herself, do not satisfy the ethical requirements for an athlete to enter the Olympic Games.As a Russian with a doping offence on her record, Stepanova would have fallen foul of the IOCs strict criteria in any case, although her role as a whistle-blower was recognised with an invitation to the Games.Furthermore, a statement said, the IOC is ready to support Mrs Stepanova so that she can continue her sports career and potentially join a National Olympic Committee.The decision to ban Stepanova was immediately branded incomprehensible by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, whose head Travis Tygart also said the call to hand responsibility to individual sports had left a confusing mess.The UK Governments sports minister Tracey Crouch said: While this is solely a decision for the IOC the scale of the evidence...arguably pointed to stronger sanctions. Also See: CAS rejects Russia appeal Putin makes doping plege Bolt backs ban on Russia Sochi report damns Russia Swell Bottle Schweiz . Saltalamacchia has agreed to a $21 million, three-year deal with the Miami Marlins, two people familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday. Swell Flasche Holz . "Today was a very great day for me. It was always my dream to be good in GS," Wierather said. "I took quite a long time to get there. It feels awesome to have my first win (in GS)." Wierather leads overall with 595 points from Lara Gut (568), who finished second, and Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany (535). http://www.swelltrinkflascheschweiz.com/...or-schweiz.html. Defenceman Tessa Bonhomme was among three players released from the team Tuesday morning along with defenceman Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man. S Well Trinkflasche . PETERSBURG, Fla. Swell Flasche Kaufen Schweiz . The goals took Liverpools tally in the Premier League this season to 70, overtaking Manchester City as the top scorers, and left the fourth-place team just four points behind league leader Chelsea.HOUSTON - CINCINNATI (6-3-1) at HOUSTON (5-5)Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Texans by 1RECORD VS. SPREAD — Cincinnati 5-5, Houston 6-4SERIES RECORD — Series tied 3-3LAST MEETING — Texans beat Bengals 20-19, Dec. 11, 2011LAST WEEK — Bengals beat Saints 27-10; Texans beat Browns 23-7AP PRO32 RANKING — Bengals No. 13, Texans No. 18.BENGALS OFFENSE — OVERALL (17), RUSH (9), PASS (21).BENGALS Defence — OVERALL (28), RUSH (28), PASS (20).TEXANS OFFENSE — OVERALL (15), RUSH (3), PASS (28).TEXANS Defence — OVERALL (30), RUSH (16), PASS (31).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Bengals QB Andy Dalton, who grew up in suburban Houston, is 0-3 all-time against Texans, including playoffs. ... Dalton threw for 220 yards with three touchdowns for career-high 143.9 quarterback rating last week. ... Rookie second-round pick Jeremy Hill had 152 yards rushing last week for his second game with at least 150 yards this season. He leads rookies with 556 yards rushing. ... A.J. Green had 127 yards receiving vs. Saints for his 18th career 100-yard game. .dddddddddddd.. DT Geno Atkins has 20 sacks since 2012. ... Houston QB Ryan Mallett threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL start in win over Cleveland. ... RB Arian Foster is one 100-yard game shy of passing Priest Holmes (31) for most such games by undrafted player. Foster did not play against Browns. ... Rookie sixth-round pick RB Alfred Blue had franchise-record 36 carries and rookie team-record 156 yards rushing last week. ... WR Andre Johnson needs one catch to pass Randy Moss for 10th on all-time list with 983. ... WR DeAndre Hopkins has had four straight games with at least 80 yards receiving. ... DE J.J. Watt became first player since 1982 with a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and touchdown reception in single game against Browns. Hes second player in NFL history with two touchdown receptions, fumble recovery for a touchdown and interception return for a touchdown in same season, joining Jay Arnold, who did it in 1938.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '