Russia banned from all global sport including 2020 OIympics and 2022 World Cup finals

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The country planted fake evidence and deleted files linked to positive doping tests that could have helped identify drug cheats

 

 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has imposed a four-year ban on Russia from all global sport, including the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup finals.

WADA's executive committee took the decision after concluding Moscow had tampered with laboratory data.

 

The agency found Russia planted fake evidence and deleted files linked to positive doping tests that could have helped identify drug cheats.

Russia has 21 days to appeal the decision through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sky's sports correspondent Martha Kelner has said the country is expected to appeal.

 

Individual Russian athletes untainted by the scandal will still be able to compete in competitions independently under a neutral flag.

It is unclear whether those who play team sports such as football will be able to play under a neutral flag.

 

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Jonathan Taylor QC, chair of the compliance review committee (CRC), said: "There will be no Russian flag at the events that are covered (by the ban).

"There will not be a Russian flag and the athletes will not be participating as representatives of Russia.

"The details from sport to sport will have to differ because some are team sports, some are individual sports, so there is going to have to be a case by case basis."

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov said after the judgement: "Everything possible was done to resolve this situation. Everything possible."

WADA said its decision was unanimous and its president Sir Craig Reedie accused Russia of choosing "deception and denial" rather than getting its house in order.