Seven Russian swimmers out of Rio Olympics as questions swirl over the nation’s team

Russia’s national team is only beginning to take shape a day after Olympic leaders declined to ban the country from the Games but set down strict eligibility standards for Russian athletes.

The International Swimming Federation provided some clarity on Monday by announcing that seven Russian swimmers would not be allowed to compete.

Three of those athletes were disqualified because they were implicated in cheating by a World Anti-Doping Agency report, according to the swimming federation. The other four — including medalist Yulia Efimova — were withdrawn by their country’s Olympic committee.

At the same time, the tennis and equestrian federations have indicated they expect Russia’s nominations in their sports to be cleared.

With no outright ban, the International Olympic Committee has asked the federations that govern each sport to decide who is eligible.

Any athlete who has previously been caught doping should not be considered, even if the athlete already served his or her punishment, the IOC said.

The president of the Russian Olympic Committee has said he expects the list of athletes barred from Rio to grow in coming days.

“I think that in the near future we will have full information,” Alexander Zhukov told the Associated Press. “I had said eight, but it’s already clear that it’s more.”

david.wharton@latimes.com

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