DOPING: IOC SUSPENDS RUSSIA’S NOC, TOP OFFICIALS FROM PYEONGCHANG 2018

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Olympic Committee, IOC today suspended the National Olympic Committee, NOC of Russia and top ministry officials from PyeongChang 2018 and in the process creating a path for only clean athletes to compete at the games.

The IOC Executive Board announced the suspension after discussing the findings of the Commission led by the former President of Switzerland, Samuel Schmid, addressing the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia.

This report addressed in particular the manipulation at the anti-doping laboratory at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 which targeted the Olympic Games directly.

“Over 17 months of extensive work, the Schmid Commission gathered evidence and information and held hearings with all the main actors. Due process, to which every individual and every organisation is entitled, was followed. This opportunity was not available to the IOC prior to the Olympic Games Rio 2016”, the IOC said.

It added that the Schmid Report confirmed systemic 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.

After discussing and approving the Schmid Report, the IOC EB took the following decision:
“To suspend the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) with immediate effect”, and to invite individual Russian athletes under strict conditions to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

“These invited athletes will participate, be it in individual or team competitions, under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)”. They will compete with a uniform bearing this name and under the Olympic Flag. The Olympic Anthem will be played in any ceremony”, the IOC said.

It will also not accredit any official from the Russian Ministry of Sport for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, to exclude the then Minister of Sport, Mr Vitaly Mutko, and his then Deputy Minister, Mr. Yuri Nagornykh, from any participation in all future Olympic Games.

“To withdraw Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, the former CEO of the Organising Committee Sochi 2014, from the Coordination Commission Beijing 2022. To suspend ROC President Alexander Zhukov as an IOC Member, given that his membership is linked to his position as ROC President”, it said.