Russia barred from the Winter Olympic Games

BY Libyan Express Dec 06, 2017 - 12:58

The Winter Olympic Games. (Archive – Internet)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned Russia from participating at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The Russian Olympic Committee was fined with $15m in costs after what the IOC called an “unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport”.

Certain Russian athletes “under strict conditions” will be able to compete under the neutral Olympic flag, according to a statement by the IOC.

Russia boycotting the games is still a viable option because of previous comments made by the Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying it would be humiliating for his country to compete without national symbols.

Russia still denies accusations of widespread institutional doping.

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