How young Russians feel about their athletes being banned from the Rio Olympics

Rio 2016 is not shaping up to be the best Olympics for the Russian team.

That's because Russia was found to have operated a state-sponsored sports doping programme from 2011 to 2015.

The country could have been banned from competing at Rio 2016 but that didn't happen. Instead, more than 110 of the 387-strong Russian team have been banned from the games by their sports' governing bodies.

So what do young Russians in the UK think of it all?

Ivan says Russians are 'concerned'

It's been 10 years since he lived in Russia but 25-year-old Ivan, who lives in Edinburgh now, goes back home regularly.

"Obviously these scandals are bringing people down," he says.

He feels like the Olympics are no longer about competitive sports.

"What is disappointing for me is that it is about who has the best drugs and can still be legal.

"It happens everywhere, just these days Russia are seen as the bad guys. For me it is quite suspicious why the host country always wins a lot of medals and then doesn't do as well next time."

Ana thinks the athletes shouldn't be getting the blame

The 22-year-old has been living in the UK since she was seven.

"I personally think those who were taking drugs should be banned, but other competitors shouldn't be punished," she says.

"Surely they should be punishing the state?

"People spend their whole life preparing for this. Then something happens which is above them and I don't think they should be punished for it."

Liza thought something might be up

Having grown up in Moscow, 16-year-old Liza now goes to boarding school in England.

"The whole doping situation was really shocking," she says. "To be fair I had a little suspicion it was happening - we were suddenly performing really well, so why else did we become so good?

"It's my country so it's obvious that I don't want to have Russia banned. I think we should have a second chance."

Alex thinks it was all covered up by Russian politicians

The 21-year-old is critical of Russian politics and he says that makes him different to others.

He has been living in the UK for four years and thinks the doping stories are "disgusting".

"I think that some of the Russian athletes had some issues with doping and our politicians have covered it up, which I oppose as much as I could.

"However, it feels like there's a lot of politics involved in the decision to ban the whole athletics team. To me it looks like western countries want to punish Russia for their behaviour in the world."

Anna has friends in the Russian sporting world

She is studying at the University of Glasgow but the 20-year-old can understand why they might have cheated.

"In Russia sport is a deeply political issue," she says. "A lot of money goes in to build new stadiums and develop new programmes.

"Athletes are supposed to perform for the money paid by the government and citizens, and because of that a lot of pressure is going from both sides.

"Unfortunately, for some athletes doping is an easier way to become idols.

"However, it doesn't necessarily mean that all of them are doping."

Ilya thinks it's not just Russia doping

Sports fan Ilya came over from Russia to study in the UK six years ago.

"Unfortunately I think if Russia wins medals some people will look and think they have been cheating.

"I think Russia has been portrayed as the only country which has been taking drugs to do well, but obviously if you do some research you will discover it is not just them. All you see is just Russia, Russia, Russia."

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