Long jumper Darya Klishina will be the only Russian track and field competing at Rio 2016.
Long jumper Darya Klishina will be the only Russian track and field competing at Rio 2016.
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
But the International Olympic Committee has told doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova she can't compete at Rio.
But the International Olympic Committee has told doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova she can't compete at Rio.
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
The Russian Olympic team attended a farewell ceremony at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in July. Many of the country's athletes won't be at Rio 2016 as a result of the doping scandal that has overshadowed the Olympics.
The Russian Olympic team attended a farewell ceremony at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in July. Many of the country's athletes won't be at Rio 2016 as a result of the doping scandal that has overshadowed the Olympics.
ALEXANDER UTKIN/AFP/Getty Images
Russia's Olympic Committee (ROC) president Alexander Zhukov has denied allegations that there was a state-sponsored doping scandal before, during and after the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.
Russia's Olympic Committee (ROC) president Alexander Zhukov has denied allegations that there was a state-sponsored doping scandal before, during and after the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.
ALEXANDER UTKIN/AFP/Getty Images
Volleyball player Dmitrij Volkov checks in ahead of the Russian team's journey to Rio.
Volleyball player Dmitrij Volkov checks in ahead of the Russian team's journey to Rio.
Pavel Golovkin/AP
Some of the athletes cleared to compete in Brazil gathered for a ceremony at the airport.
Some of the athletes cleared to compete in Brazil gathered for a ceremony at the airport.
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Before departing for Rio the team attended a religious service at Assumption Cathedral at the Kremlin.
Before departing for Rio the team attended a religious service at Assumption Cathedral at the Kremlin.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Krill, left, blesses one of the athletes.
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Krill, left, blesses one of the athletes.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Yelena Isinbayeva is one of Russia's most famous athletes, but she won't be at the Rio Games. The polevaulter is barred from competing due to the blanket ban the IAAF placed on Russian track and field athletes. She wiped away a tear after giving a speech during a reception for the team hosted by President Putin.
Yelena Isinbayeva is one of Russia's most famous athletes, but she won't be at the Rio Games. The polevaulter is barred from competing due to the blanket ban the IAAF placed on Russian track and field athletes. She wiped away a tear after giving a speech during a reception for the team hosted by President Putin.
ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AFP/Getty Images
Another athlete missing out is Sergey Shubenkov, who is the reigning 110-meter hurdles champion and would have been a strong medal contender in Rio. Instead, Shubenkov and other banned athletes took part in the Stars 2016 Tournament in Moscow, organized as an alternative for Russia's track and field team.
Another athlete missing out is Sergey Shubenkov, who is the reigning 110-meter hurdles champion and would have been a strong medal contender in Rio. Instead, Shubenkov and other banned athletes took part in the Stars 2016 Tournament in Moscow, organized as an alternative for Russia's track and field team.
VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP/Getty Images
Mariya Kuchina also competed at Moscow's Znamensky Brothers stadium. She won high jump gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
Mariya Kuchina also competed at Moscow's Znamensky Brothers stadium. She won high jump gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP/Getty Images
The Russians going to Rio ... and some who aren't

Story highlights

At least 104 Russians banned from Rio

Alternate games in Russia to feature banned athletes

About 135 track and field athletes to compete

2012 high jump gold medalist Ivan Ukhov reportedly included

CNN  — 

Who needs Rio anyway?

On the same day that its depleted Olympic team departed for the Rio 2016 Games, Russia organized an alternate competition for those who have been left behind.

The Stars 2016 Tournament was announced in a brief report run by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency Wednesday.

The competition taking place in Moscow is primarily a track and field event, however, so there were plenty of athletes to choose from.

Only one out of the 68 Russian track and field athletes hoping to go to the Olympics was granted permission to attend the Games. Long jumper Darya Klishina, who is based is the U.S., will be allowed to compete after demonstrating she is clean.

“About 135 track-and-field athletes are going to compete,” Yuri Borzakovsky, the head coach of the Russian athletics squad, told TASS about Stars 2016. “They include Olympic champions and medal holders as well as less renowned athletes forbidden to compete in Rio.

“Pole Vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva will not compete,” he added, referring to the two-time Olympic champion who launched a public campaign to have her ban lifted, only to be denied.

Current world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov, as well as 2012 Olympic high jump champion Ivan Ukhov, and 2013 world champion silver medalist triple jumper Ekaterina Koneva are reportedly taking part.

READ: Russian doping: Mad scramble to clear competitors

By the start of Wednesday, dozens of Russian athletes ranging from rowers to gymnasts to boxers were still in the dark about their participation in the Olympics.

Still awaiting their fate at the time of writing on Thursday are three taekwondo fighters, eight weightlifters, four badminton players and one golfer.