IOC upholds Russia’s suspension for Winter Olympics closing ceremony
PyeongChang (South Korea), Feb 25 (IANS) The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Sunday decided not to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) for the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea.
“No delegation of the ROC will have taken part in these Olympic Winter Games,” the IOC said in a statement.
The IOC said it would have considered lifting the suspension, but the doping involving two Russian athletes at PyeongChang was “hugely disappointing” and prevented the IOC from considering this possibility, reports Efe news.
The Russian athletes who have participated in PyeongChang have competed as neutrals under the name of Olympic Athletes from Russia.
They have not been allowed to display national symbols during the games, including the Russian flag.
The ROC was excluded from PyeongChang due to state-sponsored doping during the Sochi Games in Russia in 2014.