Can Russia Ever Compete in Olympics Again

The Court of Arbitration for Sport'south decision means Russian athletes will not compete under their nation'south proper noun and flag in the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, scheduled for 2021, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and the 2022 FIFA Globe Loving cup in Qatar. Ahmet Furkan Mercan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Ahmet Furkan Mercan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Court of Mediation for Sport'south determination means Russian athletes will non compete under their nation'due south proper noun and flag in the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, scheduled for 2021, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Ahmet Furkan Mercan/Anadolu Bureau via Getty Images

Updated at one p.thou. ET

Russian federation has been banned from fielding a national team in the next two Olympics and any world title sporting event for the next two years, a decision that reduces the length of Russian federation'southward suspension issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency last yr. Individual Russian athletes who compete will not be allowed to use their nation'due south flag and canticle.

In a decision announced Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) unanimously found that Russia was not in compliance with international anti-doping rules.

The World Anti-Doping Agency had sought a stiffer four-yr ban for Russian federation, though the Switzerland-based court said the lighter penalty should not exist read equally validation for Russia'southward actions.

"It has considered matters of proportionality and, in detail, the need to event cultural change and encourage the next generation of Russian athletes to participate in make clean international sport," the panel stated.

Under the terms of the ruling, the word "Russia" can appear on athletes' uniforms every bit long as the phrase "neutral athlete" is equally prominent. Uniforms may not deport the Russian flag, only will be permitted to have the flag's colors. The Russian national anthem will not be played or sung at any official event venue.

The 2-twelvemonth period begins today and ends December 16, 2022.

The ruling will touch Russia's participation at side by side summer'due south Olympics in Tokyo, the 2022 Wintertime Olympics in Beijing, likewise every bit the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. For those events Russian teams will exist banned, simply Russian athletes volition not.

RUSADA, the Russian anti-doping agency, must pay $1.27 million to WADA for costs incurred in its investigation.

It was not clear why the court agreed with WADA'southward findings, but decided on a weaker penalty than the iv-twelvemonth ban the body announced final December.

WADA said in a statement that the ruling was "a clear endorsement" of its assertion that information from a laboratory in Moscow had been tampered with earlier being handed over to WADA investigators, and it said it was pleased to have won the instance.

"We are, all the same, disappointed that the CAS Console did non endorse each and every one of our recommended consequences for the 4-yr menstruation we requested," said WADA President Witold Bańka.

"The egregious manipulation past the Russian authorities of data retrieved past WADA Intelligence and Investigations from the Moscow Laboratory was the latest in a long list of offences and it has led today to significant consequences for the regime," Bańka said. "Russian government were afforded every opportunity to go their firm in order and re-join the global anti-doping community for the adept of their athletes and the integrity of sport, only they chose instead to go on on their path of charade and deprival."

RUSADA says information technology was non fully satisfied, either.

"It seems that non all arguments presented by our lawyers were heard," the bureau'due south acting head, Mikhail Bukhanov, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.South. Anti-Doping Agency, expressed grave thwarting with the conclusion, which he said "hands WADA and clean athletes a significant loss."

"At this stage in this sordid Russian country-sponsored doping affair, now spanning close to a decade, there is no consolation in this weak, watered-down outcome," Tygart said in a statement.

"While the first instinct is to express obvious shock, the fact is we should have all seen this coming. WADA and the IOC have manipulated and mishandled this sordid Russian state-doping matter from day i and have put politics over principle once more. In addition to many other loopholes, this conclusion expressly gives IOC members from Russian federation special treatment and exempts them from any result for their bad acts that robbed sport and clean athletes," he said.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee echoed that sentiment.

"What is clear at this bespeak is that the breathy disregard shown for the rules and purpose of anti-doping regulations in this case has harmed clean athletes and gone further to erode conviction in the international anti-doping construct," the committee said in a statement.

"The USOPC has heard clearly from our own athlete representatives their view that there is an urgent need for leadership and deep, expedient changes to the current governance, systems, and organizations responsible for the international anti-doping movement," the committee added. "They feel the electric current status quo deeply threatens the brusque and long-term prospects of athletes and the Olympic and Paralympic movements as a whole."

huffmanseeagentory.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/17/947504052/russia-suspended-from-next-2-olympic-games-over-anti-doping-violations

Share this post