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.