Russia Is Banned From 2018 Olympics; Athletes Told To Compete Under Olympic Flag
The decision by the International Olympic Committee follows last year's McLaren Report, which said more than 1,000 Russian athletes were involved in manipulating doping controls.
The International Olympic Committee has suspended the Russian Olympic Committee "with immediate effect," effectively banning the country from the upcoming Winter Olympics over Russia's system of state-supported cheating by its athletes who used performance-enhancing drugs.
Russian athletes can compete in the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the IOC said on Tuesday — but the athletes will have to pass strict scrutiny, and instead of wearing their nation's uniform, they will compete under the title "Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)."
"They will compete with a uniform bearing this name and under the Olympic Flag," the IOC. "The Olympic Anthem will be played in any ceremony."
