Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has promised to return gamblers money if British or Irish athletes are beaten by a Russian at Rio 2016 ©Paddy Power

Bookmaker Paddy Power has launched a campaign offering gamblers their money back if a Russian beats a British or Irish competitor at the Olympic Games here.

The Irish company claimed it is incentive for fans "worried" that athletes from Britain and Ireland might be beaten by "Russian dopes".

The campaign has been launched following the publication of the McLaren Report, which alleged widespread state-sponsored doping in Russia.

The International Olympic Committee refused to issue a blanket ban which would have prevented Russia from competing at Rio 2016 and have left it up to the International Federations to decide who is eligible or not. 

Paddy Power has taken out print adverts in several British and Irish newspapers.

They said: "Urine luck. Money back as a free bet if a Team GB or Ireland athlete finishes second to a Russian."

Ken Robertson, advertising director at Paddy Power Betfair said: "When we heard about the IOC’s decision we were Russian around to see how we could help our punters, and money back as a free bet if a Team GB or Ireland athlete finishes finish to a Russian seemed like a dope idea.

"We’re very happy with the ad, and if anything it’s our creative team that have been taking performance-enhancing substances."

An advert in 2014 offering odds on whether Oscar Pistorius would be found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was withdrawn following a record number of complaints ©Paddy Power
An advert in 2014 offering odds on whether Oscar Pistorius would be found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was withdrawn following a record number of complaints ©Paddy Power

Paddy Power is well-known in Britain and Ireland for its publicity stunts.

During a UEFA Euro 2012 match between Denmark and Portugal, Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner celebrated his second goal by lowering his shorts and lifting his shirt to reveal a pair of Paddy Power underpants, to the disgust of the national team's sponsor, rival bookmakers Ladborkes.

Bendtner was fined €100,000 (£84,000/$112,000) by UEFA and banned for one game. 

Two years ago the UK Advertising Standards Authority received a record 5,525 complaints after Paddy Power offered odds on whether six-time Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius would be found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and offering to refund gamblers if he was let off.

Paddy Power dropped the campaign following the pressure. 

Paddy Power packed a truck outside the Russian Embassy in London on the of England's UEFA Euro 2016 match against Russia last month ©Paddy Power
Paddy Power packed a truck outside the Russian Embassy in London on the of England's UEFA Euro 2016 match against Russia last month ©Paddy Power

The company also funded former Tottenham Hotspur and French footballer David Ginola to run for President of FIFA and in 2009 offered odds that London would withdraw from hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games because of the credit crunch.

It is also not the first time this year Paddy Power has run a campaign aimed at aggravating the Russians.

In June it parked a truck bearing the slogan "Chat Shit, Get Banged" - a phase made famous by England striker Jamie Vardy last year after he scored in 11 Premier League games in a row for Leicester City - outside of the Russian Embassy in Kensington before a UEFA Euro 2016 match.