International Olympic Committee Suspends Russian Federation
Bach Cites 'Systematic Manipulation' of Anti-Doping System
Coe Calls for 'Fundamental Reform' in Russian Sports
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the Russian Federation from the Olympic Games "until further notice." The decision was made after an investigation found that Russian athletes had been involved in a "systematic manipulation" of the anti-doping system at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement that the decision was "a necessary step to protect the integrity of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement." He added that the IOC was "determined to ensure that the Olympic Games are a clean and level playing field for all athletes."
The suspension means that Russian athletes will not be allowed to compete under the Russian flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. They may still be able to compete as "neutral athletes," but only if they meet strict criteria set by the IOC.
The suspension is the latest in a series of scandals that have rocked Russian sports in recent years. In 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found that Russia had been operating a state-sponsored doping program for years.
Sebastian Coe, the president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), said that the IOC's decision was a "necessary step" to clean up Russian sports. He added that he hoped the suspension would lead to "fundamental reform" in the Russian sports system.
The Russian Olympic Committee has said that it will appeal the IOC's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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