Russia Banned From All Major Sporting Events

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s executive committee made an unanimous decision today. Russia will not be allowed to compete in any major sporting events for the next four years. This includes the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup that will take place in Qatar. The decision comes after the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, declared Russia had manipulated mandatory laboratory evidence and data handed over in January of this year. WADA President Sir Craig Reedie commented “Russia was afforded every opportunity to get its house in order and re-join the global anti-doping community for the good of its athletes and of the integrity of sport, but it chose instead to continue in its stance of deception and denial.” Russia has been banned from competing as a nation since 2015, but individual athletes from the country have been able to compete at major events like the 2018 Winter Olympics under a neutral flag.