WADA agreed to ban Russia from 2020 Olympics & 2022 World Cup over doping scandal

The World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has without exception has agreed to ban Russia from
major international sporting competitions — notably the Olympics and the World
Cup for four years over doping non-compliance.

WADA’s
compliance review committee (CRC) had suggested several sanctions because of
the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA) failure to cooperate fully during
probes into Russian sport.

WADA’s
executive committee decided to uphold the recommendations at a meeting in
Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday.

Russian
whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, who was influential in initially exposing
the doping cover-up, praised WADA’s decision.

“Let
every corrupt nation that tries to play from Russia’s illegal playbook take note
of today’s monumental decision. When doping conspiracies become a crime under
the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, cheaters will be in U.S. prisons and clean athletes
will be better protected”, said Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov,

RUSADA has
21 days to accept the decision or send the matter to the Court of Arbitration
for Sport (CAS).

Svetlana
Zhurova, first deputy chairperson of the international committee of the Russian
State Duma lower parliament house, suggested an appeal was very likely and that
a decision would be made when RUSADA meets on December 19.

The latest
ban still leaves the door open for Russian athletes, who can prove they are not
ruined by the scandal, to compete as neutral athletes.