The report generated by the Schmid Commission found “systematic manipulation of the anti-doping rules and system in Russia.”
The Russian Olympic team has been officially banned from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board announced the decision “to suspend the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) with immediate effect” in a press conference held on December 5th.
Investigation into Doping
This decision comes at the recommendation of the Schmid Commission, a review committee led by former President of Switzerland, Samuel Schmid. The report generated by the Schmid Commission found “systematic manipulation of the anti-doping rules and system in Russia, through the Disappearing Positive Methodology and during the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, as well as the various levels of administrative, legal and contractual responsibility, resulting from the failure to respect the respective obligations of the various entities involved.”
Additionally, certain key leaders in the Russian government have been banned from participation in any Olympic events. The Minister of Sport during the time investigated, Vitaly Mutko, and his Deputy Minister, Yuri Nagornykh, will be unable to participate in any future Olympic Games. Dmitry Chernyshenko, CEO of the Olympic Organizing Committee during the 2014 Sochi Games, will no longer be part of the Olympic leadership for the 2022 Beijing Games. ROC President Alexander Zhukov is also suspended as a member of the IOC.
The investigation, conducted over 17 months, specifically focused on the Winter Olympics Games in 2014, held in Sochi, Russia.
Russian Athletes able to Compete Independently
Some Russian athletes will still be able to participate at the 2018 Games. Once invited, they will participate “under the name ‘Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)’” rather than as part of the banned Russian Olympic Team.
Should one of the Russian athletes medal in an event, they will be honored under the Olympic Flag and the Olympic Anthem will play.
IOC suspends Russian NOC and creates a path for clean individual athletes to compete in @PyeongChang2018 under the Olympic Flag https://t.co/bKA9rpbd3y
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) December 5, 2017
To participate, Russian athletes will need a special invitation from the Olympic Committee. A panel will decide who to invite based on strict anti-doping criteria and testing. According to guidance published by the IOC, athletes must be found to be clean of any doping through three main criteria to even be considered by the panel.
“- Athletes must not have been disqualified or declared ineligible for any Anti-Doping Rule Violation
– Athletes must have undergone all the pre-Games targeted tests recommended by the Pre-Games Testing Task Force
– Athletes must have undergone any other testing requirements specified by the panel to ensure a level playing field”
The IOC will apply strict criteria when inviting Russian officials or support personnel to participate in the Games as well.
Should one of the Russian athletes medal in an event, they will be honored under the Olympic Flag and the Olympic Anthem will play.
U.S. Participation in 2018 Games
Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, told FOX News that the United States will “make sure we’re taking every precaution possible to make sure that they are safe and to know everything that’s going on around them” regarding sending athletes to the 2018 Games.
Many interpreted her remarks as confirmation that the U.S. is considering not participating in these Olympic Games. As tensions grow in the region, concerns have arisen regarding the safety of the athletes. Haley stated that “it is always about how do we protect U.S. citizens in the area.”
“I know that the goal is to do so, but that will be a decision made closer to the time,” Sanders stated.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders answered questions in a press briefing on December 7th regarding the United States’ participation at PyeongChang and further clarified the United States’ position.
When asked if the United States’ participation is an “open question,” as stated by Nikki Haley, she answered that the decision would be made closer to the actual Games.
“I know that the goal is to do so, but that will be a decision made closer to the time,” Sanders stated. She also confirmed that the reason the U.S. would not participate would be due to security.
This would be only the second time that the U.S. did not participate since the modern Olympics began in 1896. The U.S. led 66 countries in boycotting the 1980 Summer Games, held in Moscow, in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. 16 additional countries participated but took action, such as boycotting the Opening Ceremonies, to show their protest.
