World Anti-Doping Agency, aka Wada, imposed a 4 years ban on Russia from entering to Tokyo Olympics 2020 and Paralympics and football’s 2022 World Cup. The primary reason for this ban can be estimated as the ‘Anti-Russian’ outrage about Russian Athlete’s practice of doping which is ongoing around the world of sports.
On Monday, Wada's executive committee in a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, while stating this decision also said that the athletes won’t be able to compete under the Russian Flags but who can provide this impression that they are not into doping practice will be given the chance to compete individually.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev showed deep condolence to the Athletes whose career will get affected by this sudden decision overnight but he also did a special mention that this kind of incident is very common in Russia and as a result of which this ban has taken place.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, came up with deep anguish over the decision as he stated that the country has all the executive powers and justified ground to challenge this decision.
Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency(Rusada) said that the laboratory data which was given to the investigators in January 2019 might have been manipulated in return to which Wada says they can give 21 days to Rusada to appeal against the ban. If things go like that then this appeal will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
Sir Craig Reedie, Wada’s president, in an encouraging tone, said that this act is a symbol to work with proper determination at the juncture of the Russian doping crisis. He also mentioned that ample time has been given to Russia to join the global community for anti-dope but they remain stagnant in their process and chose to deny and deceive.
Wada vice-president Linda Helleland feels the ban is not enough, she said if it would have been something more concrete then the chances to eradicate the doping from the system would have been more.
A good number of 168 Russian athletes competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang which is hosted in Sochi under the neutral flag after the country faced a successive ban on 2014 games. Since 2015 they are facing a ban to compete in athletics as a nation. However, they will be able to compete at Euro 2020 as UEFA does not come under ‘major event organization’ St Petersburg will host this event.
The International Paralympic Committee and International Olympic Committee supported Wada’s decision they stated that the athletes whoever gets to indulge in this kind of insincere activities lack sportsmanship spirit and tough measures should be taken to stop these practices immediately.
