WADA bans Russia for 4 years

Tue, Dec  10, 2019 - By Mike Muha

The World Anti-Doping Agency's executive committee unanimously imposed a four-year ban on Russia using its flag, anthem and team names at Olympic and other major sports events. Russia will be unable to compete in next summer's Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo and in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

WADA made the decision based on "inconsistencies" found in drug testing data from the Moscow Laboratory from January 2019:

1. The data neither complete or fully authentic
2. Some data was removed, altered or fabricated.
3. Attempts were made to back-date computer systems and files to make it appear the Moscow data went back at far as 2015.

Russia may formally appeal the ruling. Russian athletes may still compete but not under the Russian flag and only if there are "no positive findings reported for them in the database and no data relating to their samples has been manipulated, and that they have been subject to adequate in-competition and out-of-competition testing prior to the event."