Russia banned from international sport for four years

This appeared in The Millennial Source

On Monday, December 9, The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia from competing in international sports competitions for four years.

WADA imposed the ban after an emergency meeting of its executive committee concluded that Russia had attempted to cover up a campaign of state-sponsored doping.

The ban means that Russia will be excluded from taking part in several upcoming international sporting events. Russia’s name, flag and anthem will not feature at the 2020 Olympics, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics or the upcoming football World Cup in Qatar.

Although the country itself is banned, the ban does not exclude all Russian athletes.

Individual competitors from the country can still compete in the Olympics and other world championships, albeit under a neutral flag and team name, provided that there is no direct connection between them and the Russian doping scandal.

Although the ban doesn’t prohibit Russian athletes from participating in the competitions, government and sporting officials from Russia are unable to attend. The ban also forbids the country from hosting or bidding to host any future sporting events.