On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Games. The ban was imposed after a violation of the anti doping rule.
The IOC stated the Russian athletes can compete in the 2018 Games. But the athletes will have to pass strict scrutiny and instead of wearing their nation’s uniform, they will compete under the title “Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR,)” they added.
It is stated Russia violated the anti doping rules. In the 2015 World Anti Doping Code, there are 10 Anti Doping Rule Violations (ADRV.)
The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This is the toughest sanction ever imposed by IOC for the violation of anti doping rules.
The IOC President Thomas Bach accused Russia of perpetrating an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport. The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the Russian athletes taking part in an elaborate anti doping programme at 2014 Winter Olympics. “As an athlete myself, I’m feeling very sorry for all the clean athletes,” Thomas Bach said.
Evidence has indicated the doping scheme involved Senior Government officials, the Sports Ministry and Secret State Agents.
The IOC has also banned the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Vitaly Mutko also the Sports Minister during the Sochi games for life. Vitaly Mutko is currently the head of the organising committee for the 2018 World Cup.
Russia is hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. FIFA stated it had taken note of the IOC decision but it has no impact on the preparations for Russia 2018.
The IOC also suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and its Chief Alexander Zhukov. On Tuesday, Zhukov stated he apologised to the IOC for the anti doping violations committed by Russia in the recent years.
