Recently Russia has been banned from the 2024 Olympic games, but for long time followers of the event this comes as no surprise. Russia’s relationship with the Olympics can be described as rocky at best, ranging from short suspensions to yearlong bans, Mother Russia has gained notoriety as the class troublemaker among its fellow participants.
Starting off in 2017, Russia was handed a suspension by the Internatinal Olympic Committe for running a doping scheme which was first exposed by a whistleblower in 2016. Although, at the 2018 Winter Olympics Russia athletes who passed a rigorous drug test were allowed to compete under the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) delegation.
However, in 2019 Russia was found guilty of running a year-long, state-sponsored doping scheme, and received a four-year ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The difference between their ban in 2018 and 2019 is that one of the schemes was run by the state, originally it was assumed it was the athlete’s decision to use performance enhancing drugs was their decision, however after it was revealed that it was the being sponsored and encouraged by the state it became a much graver matter.
Next, Russia requested an appeal which they were granted, resulting in the ban being shortened to 2022 with some alterations to the rules. The country would still not be recognized at the winter games and the 215 Russian athletes would be competing under a flag containing the Olympic rings.
Although the ban was shorted by 2 years, Russia still did not attend the 2023 games due a violation of the Olympic charter after they incorporated 4 sports bodies from annexed Ukraine territories. As consequence, on top of not being able to participate Russia would not receive any funding from IOC, which is any profits generated from the Olympic games.
Finally in 2024 Russia is still not attending the Olympic games, due to their continued invasions of Ukraine. However, athletes from Russia are still allowed to participate under a neutral flag as the IOC claims it is a matter of “respect basic human rights.”
Caption for Article- Since 2017 Russia has had a spotty track record at the Olympics, being banned suspended and even convicted of a doping scheme in 2019. Read more to see Russia’s history of non-involvement in the Olympics.
