Russia confirmed that intends to appeal the four-year ban it was served by WADA

The appeal must be filed with CAS by December 30, and the ban will not take effect until after CAS renders a decision.

Russia confirmed on Thursday that it intends to appeal the four-year ban it was served by WADA 10 days ago for non-compliance in the ongoing Russian doping scandal. The ban covers the 2020 Olympics, Paralympics and 2022 Winter Games, in addition to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, during which Russia may not participate or host, and its flag will not be flown. It also may not bid on the 2032 Olympic or Paralympic Games. According to a report by InsidetheGames.com, the appeal must be filed with the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by December 30.

The ban was imposed as a result of the data from the Moscow Laboratory, required as a condition of the September 2018 re-instatement after the previous three-year ban, was found to have been tampered with.

The ban does not prevent Russian athletes from participating as neutral athletes, provided they can prove they are clean and that their data was not among the manipulated data from the Moscow lab, something many commentators say makes the ban effectively meaningless.

It will not come into effect until after CAS reaches a ruling, which could take several months. (The Olympics opening ceremonies are scheduled for July 24.)

In a press conference held Thursday, Russian president Vladimir Putin said the ban “goes against common sense.”

posted Monday December 23rd
by Anne Francis