FROM RUSSIA WITH DRUGS
Russia banned from the Winter Olympic Games over state-sponsored doping
The International Olympic Committee has made the decision just 65 days ahead of the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea
RUSSIA have been banned from the Winter Olympics over state-sponsored doping.
The International Olympic Committee has made the decision just 65 days ahead of the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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Clean athletes will be allowed to compete at the Games as neutrals under the Olympic flag.
With their athletes unable to compete under a Russian identity, state TV have made the decision not to broadcast the event.
As well as the immediate suspension of the ROC, the IOC announced a raft of sanctions against senior officials implicated in the scandal, including Russia's deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko - who is banned for life.
They suspended ROC president Alexander Zhukov as an IOC member, given that his membership is linked to his position as ROC President.
It has also fined the ROC £11.16million to reimburse the costs of the various investigations into Russia's cheating and help set up the IOC's new independent testing authority.
Russia banned from Winter Olympics 2018 following major doping scandal
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The decision was reached after the IOC's 14-strong executive board received a recommendation from a disciplinary commission.
It was set up to investigate claims Russia conducted a state-sponsored doping programme that culminated at the 2014 Winter Games in the Russian city of Sochi.
IOC commission chairman Samuel Schmid says: "(the doping program) was under the authority of the Russian sports ministry.
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"That is why the then sports minister has responsibility for the failure of this system."
The one olive branch offered to the ROC is that the IOC "may partially or fully lift the suspension" in time for Russia to participate in Pyeongchang's closing ceremony, "provided these decisions are fully respected and implemented".
Mutko appeared at the Kremlin last week alongside Fifa President Gianni Infantino.
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There was no immediate comment from Fifa on Mukto's continuing role as head of the Russian football federation and the World Cup organising committee.
The country will host next summer's World Cup, with the eyes of the sporting world shifting to the country after last Friday's draw in Moscow.
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