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Russia will not be fielding teams for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The move by the International Olympic Committee follows doping allegations that were “so severe they were without precedent in Olympics history.”
I.O.C. Gives Russia Major Punishment for Winter Olympics
In barring Russia’s team, Olympic officials left the door open for some Russian athletes. Those with histories of rigorous drug testing may petition for permission to compete in neutral uniforms. Although it is unknown exactly how many will clear that bar, it is certain that the contingent from Russia will be depleted significantly. Entire sports – such as biathlon and cross-country skiing, in which Russia has excelled and in which its drug violations have been many – could be wiped out completely.
Thomas Bach, president of I.O.C., has said he was perturbed not only by Russia’s widespread cheating but by how it had been accomplished: by corrupting the Olympic laboratory that handled drug testing at the Games, and on orders from Russia’s own Olympic officials.
Some athletes with perfect drug-testing records may be allowed to compete under a neutral flag. This is a major blow for the team that led in gold medals and total medals in 2014, though many of those medals were stripped after the doping investigation.
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