Russia banned from 2018 Winter Olympics

One News reports:

Russia’s Olympic team has been barred from competing at next year’s 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, amid claims of systematic doping.

The country’s government officials are forbidden from attending and their flag will not be flown during the opening ceremony or games.

Athletes with rigorous drug testing histories will be able to compete as neutrals, but the Russian national anthem will not play should they win gold.

The IOC has also imposed a lifetime Olympic ban on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, organizer of football’s 2018 World Cup.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the actions taken protect clean athletes while targetting the systematic doping schemes allegedly undertaken by Russia.

This is a very good thing. All countries have some athletes that cheat with steroids etc. But Russia is unique in having a steroid programme organised and administered by the Government, and covered up by the Government. The only way to discourage Governments from doing this is consequences such as non-competition.