Russia Banned From Olympics and Other Global Competitions for Four Years

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has just banned Russia from the Olympics, World, and other major global sporting competitions for four years. A WADA meeting on Monday agreed that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) should be declared non-compliant with the WADA code and suffer the appropriate consequences. The decision comes after data obtained from RUSADA’s Moscow Laboratory was found to have inconsistencies and suspicious alterations.

Sir Craig Reedie, president of WADA, said, “For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport. The blatant breach by the Russian authorities of RUSADA’s reinstatement conditions, approved by the ExCo in September 2018, demanded a robust response. That is exactly what has been delivered today. Russia was afforded every opportunity to get its house in order and re-join the global anti-doping community for the good of its athletes and of the integrity of sport, but it chose instead to continue in its stance of deception and denial.”

Although athletes will not be able to compete under the Russian flag at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, they will be permitted to compete under a neutral banner as they did at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

WADA also proposed several other consequences for Russia, including not being allowed to host any major sporting events for four years, prohibiting the flying of a Russian flag at any major event, and barring Russian government officials and representatives from attending any event.