The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has handed Russia a four-year ban from all major sporting events.
Russia Handed 2022 World Cup Ban For Doping
Major Sporting Events
The ban means the Russia flag and anthem will not be allowed at both the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Athletes who can prove they are untainted by the doping scandal will be able to participate, competing under a neutral flag.
The ban does not, however, limit Russia from hosting major sporting events such as the 2020 European Championships or the 2021 Champions League final.
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Why Have Russia Been Banned?
Wada’s executive committee came to a unanimous decision to ban the nation after Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) was declared non-compliant for doping offences.
The organisation had been accused of manipulating laboratory data handed to investigators in January 2019.
Rusada had to transfer data as a condition of its controversial reinstatement a year ago; the nation had previously had a three-year suspension for its state-sponsored doping scandal.
Although, Russia has been banned from participating in athletics as a nation since 2015.
The ban restricts Russia from hosting or bidding for, any major events for four years.
This suspension includes the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ban ‘Not Enough’, Says Wada Vice President
Wada vice-president Linda Helleland said: “I wanted sanctions that can not be watered down.
“We owe it to the clean athletes to implement the sanctions as strongly as possible.”
Rusada was declared non-compliant in November 2015 after a report alleged nationwide corruption in Russian track and field athletics.
A report published in July 2016 declared Russia operated a state-sponsored operation for four years during the “vast majority” of summer and winter Olympic sports.
Wada reinstated Rusada in 2018; however, positive findings courtesy of a whistleblower in 2017 led to a new investigation.
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