Matrix Report
After the new doping scandal against Russia, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has banned the country from all major sporting events for the next four years. This means that Russia will not be an official part of the Olympics and Paralympics in 2020, or the FIFA WorldCup in 2022.
WADA has announced that no Russian flag will be raised during these major sporting events, and the Russian National Anthem will also not be played. However, players that can prove that they have not been involved in the doping scandal will be allowed to compete in the sporting events, under a neutral banner.
The Prime Minister of Russia believes that this is all part of “chronic anti-Russian hysteria”. He believes that even though doping was a major issue, players were previously punished, and this is a part of an anti-Russia campaign. Similarly, President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia has grounds to appeal against this decision.
This decision came after actual laboratory data was received by WADA from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada). Rusada had previously been suspended for three years because of the country wide state sponsored doping scandal. Rusada will be able to appeal against the ban, within 21 days. The appeal will be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
Russia will still be able to play in regional tournaments and sporting events, such as UEFA Euro Cup, because these tournaments are not classified as major sporting events.
