Russia will not participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in
Beijing China , after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) imposed a four-year
ban on the country’s Olympics teams.
Wada used Russia’s flag, national anthem and team names at
Olympic and other major sports events to declare the ban.
This also means that the country will not be able to take
part in major world events including world championships and the 2022 World Cup
in Qatar.
WADA’s Executive Committee voted in Lausanne, Switzerland,
on Monday and concluded that officials in a Moscow anti-doping laboratory had
tampered with data.
The tampering included planting fake evidence and deleting
files linked to positive doping tests that could have helped identify drug
cheats.
The committee also found that system messages were fabricated
in an effort to hamper the work of WADA investigators.
However, the ban does not bar clean Russian athletes, but
rather allows them to compete at major international sporting events without
their flag or anthem.
On the other hand, world football governing body FIFA was
categorical, saying that it will engage Wada on their next course of action
based on the country’s qualification in the 2020 World cup.
“FIFA has taken note of the decision taken by WADA’s
Executive Committee today. FIFA is in contact with WADA and the Association of
Summer Olympic International Federations to clarify the extent of the decision
in regards to football.”
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency has 21 days to appeal the
decision by Wada, which may prompt the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have a
ruling on the matter.
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