Lausanne, Switzerland—The International Olympic Committee Executive Board decides to bar Russian official Olympic team from attending the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea based on the findings on the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia.
After discussing and approving the report of the commission led by Samuel Schmid, the former president of Switzerland, the IOC EB made the decision. The Russian Olympic Committee was suspended with immediate effect.
Invited individual Russian athletes may participate in the Pyeongchang games under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)”. They will compete with a uniform bearing this name and under the Olympic Flag. The Olympic Anthem will be played in any ceremony.
The IOC may partially or fully lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee from the commencement of the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 provided its decisions are fully respected and implemented by the Russian Olympic Committee and by the invited athletes and officials.
