Russia Handed 4-Year Doping Ban for All Major Sporting Events
Dec 9, 2019
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Aliya Mustafina of Russia celebrate winning the gold medal after the Women's Uneven Bars Final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Russia have been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency from competing in all major sporting events for the next four years.
Per BBC Sport, the ban includes the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where "the Russia flag and anthem will not be allowed."
It does not, though, include UEFA Euro 2020, because UEFA is not classed as a "major event organisation."
Russia have already qualified for next summer's European tournament, and Saint Petersburg is one of the 12 host cities.
WADA's executive committee reached a unanimous decision to sanction Russia in Lausanne, Switzerland, afterrepeatedoffences:
Significant punishment for repeated deceptions: World Anti-Doping Agency imposes 4-year ban on Russia using its flag, anthem and team names at Olympics and others sports events
As at the 2018 Winter Olympics inPyeongchang, South Korea, individual athletes who can prove they are clean will be allowed to compete but not under the Russian flag.
Russia's Anti-Doping Agency, which was declared noncompliant back in January, has 21 days to appeal the ban.
USADA CEO Slams WADA After Russia Miss Anti-Doping Information Deadline
Jan 1, 2019
A spectator waves the Russia flag during the men's preliminary round ice hockey match between the Olympic Athletes from Russia and Slovenia during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung on February 16, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
USADA Chief Executive Officer Travis T. Tygart has taken aim at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the "global anti-doping system" following Russia's failure to provide the necessary anti-doping information ahead of a December 31 deadline.
Tygart called the situation a "total joke and embarrassment" in a statement:
Statement from USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart on WADA Failure to Enforce Deadline for Russia Data Submission pic.twitter.com/tjY1Imt5iY
According to Eddie Pells of the Associated Press, WADA lifted a ban on Russia's athletes in September. As part of that decision, the Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) was required to turn over data and samples, but Russian authorities overruled a WADA team of scientists in December, citing noncompliant lab equipment as the reason.
Per BBC's Dan Roan, the International Olympic Committee's statement appeared to indicate Russia won't be banned from the 2020 Olympics:
IOC President Bach seems to suggest here that despite missing WADA’s deadline & risking suspension, Russia is not in danger of being banned from Tokyo 2020... “With its suspension from PyeongChang 2018, the Russian Olympic Committee has served its sanction” https://t.co/zgJ9ak59yB
The Russian team was banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, after the IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee for its part in a state-sponsored doping scandal.
Some Russian athletes did compete under a neutral flag, and the team won two gold medals, including its first hockey title since the Unified Team did so in 1992.
Per BBC Sport, WADA's decision to reinstate RUSADA was a controversial one, with athletes and organisations from different countries voicing their criticism.
Sportswriter Nick Harris took to social media following the news Russia have missed their deadline:
And yes, of course, there's doping in ALL sports in ALL countries, decades of it in USA track n field and in British cycling etc ad infinitum. But the scale & organisation and Govt support of the Russian scam since 2010 (ish) is unprecedented in modern times.
