IOC's decision: (clean) Russian athletes can compete under neutral flag at PyeongChang Olympics

[Sylvia]

Link to watch the live stream of IOC President Thomas Bach's press conference (scheduled to start in 15 mins.; ETA: now archived - just over one hour long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Oyb1Oj-vDM

Live blog: https://www.insidethegames.biz/arti...tive-board-decision-on-russian-doping-scandal

(Note: I have since edited the title of the thread and this first post after the initial announcement was made and added additional news items from Dec. 5 & 6 below).

ETA from InsidetheGames' live blog:

BREAKING: Russian athletes to compete under neutral flag at Pyeongchang 2018
The Russian Olympic Committee have been suspended and athletes from Russia will compete under a neutral flag at Pyeongchang 2018, the IOC Executive Board have ruled.

IOC's official press release: IOC SUSPENDS RUSSIAN NOC AND CREATES A PATH FOR CLEAN INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN PYEONGCHANG 2018 UNDER THE OLYMPIC FLAG

Excerpt (second half):

How the athletes will be chosen:

To invite individual Russian athletes to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 according to the following guidelines:

• The invitation list will be determined, at its absolute discretion, by a panel chaired by Valerie Fourneyron, Chair of the ITA. The panel will include members of the Pre-Games Testing Task Force: one appointed by WADA, one by the DFSU and one by the IOC, Dr Richard Budgett.
  
  
• This panel will be guided in its decisions by the following principles:
  1. It can only consider athletes who have qualified according to the qualification standards of their respective sport.
     
     
  2. Athletes must be considered clean to the satisfaction of this panel:
     • Athletes must not have been disqualified or declared ineligible for any Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
       
       
     • Athletes must have undergone all the pre-Games targeted tests recommended by the Pre-Games Testing Task Force.
       
       
     • Athletes must have undergone any other testing requirements specified by the panel to ensure a level playing field.
     The IOC, at its absolute discretion, will ultimately determine the athletes to be invited from the list.
     
  3. These invited athletes will participate, be it in individual or team competitions, in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 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.
     
     
  4. These invited athletes will enjoy the same technical and logistical support as any other Olympic athlete.
     
     
  5. The panel, at its absolute discretion, will determine an invitation list for support staff and officials.
     
     
  6. This panel will be guided in its decisions by the following principles:
     • No member of the leadership of the Russian Olympic Team at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 can be included on the invitation list.
       
       
     • No coach or medical doctor whose athlete has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation can be included on the invitation list. All coaches and medical doctors included on the invitation list must sign a declaration to this effect.
       
       
     • Any other requirement considered necessary to protect the integrity of the Olympic Games.
  7. The IOC, at its absolute discretion, will ultimately determine the support staff and officials to be invited from the list.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: "This was an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport. The IOC EB, after following due process, has issued proportional sanctions for this systemic manipulation while protecting the clean athletes. This should draw a line under this damaging episode and serve as a catalyst for a more effective anti-doping system led by WADA."

He continued: "As an athlete myself, I feel very sorry for all the clean athletes from all NOCs who are suffering from this manipulation. Working with the IOC Athletes’ Commission, we will now look for opportunities to make up for the moments they have missed on the finish line or on the podium."

Links:

Decision of the IOC EB

Report of the Schmid Commission

---

Now it's up to Russia & Putin to decide the fate of their Olympic hopeful athletes... Putin has yet to make an official statement on this topic following today's IOC decision, so stay tuned.

ETA on Dec. 6: From the Associated Press:
"MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will not stop the country's athletes from competing at Pyeongchang Olympics."
https://twitter.com/jellingworth/status/938430663245606912

Russian figure skating federation president Alexander Gorshkov was quoted as saying that a decision regarding their figure skaters competing at the Olympics will not be made until after the Grand Prix Final: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eongchang-olympics.102516/page-6#post-5204602

A link to the full text of Evgenia Medvedva's speech in front of the IOC's Executive Board is posted here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eongchang-olympics.102516/page-5#post-5204537
Thanks to @Ka3sha for this link to her talking to reporters afterwards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5YjrY7QOA

 

[WildRose]

CBC live stream announcement link:
http://www.cbc.ca/1.4432781

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

What does that mean for the team competitions? A neutral flag team?

 

[missing]

From insidethegames:

This panel will be guided in its decisions by the following principles:
a) No member of the leadership of the Russian Olympic Team at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 can be included on the invitation list.
b) No coach or medical doctor whose athlete has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation can be included on the invitation list. All coaches and medical doctors included on the invitation list must sign a declaration to this effect.
c) Any other requirement considered necessary to protect the integrity of the Olympic Games.
7. The IOC, at its absolute discretion, will ultimately determine the support staff and officials to be invited from the list.
III. Not to accredit any official from the Russian Ministry of Sport for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
IV. To exclude the then Minister of Sport, Mr Vitaly Mutko, and his then Deputy Minister, Mr Yuri Nagornykh, from any participation in all future Olympic Games.
V. To withdraw Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, the former CEO of the Organising Committee Sochi 2014, from the Coordination Commission Beijing 2022.
VI. To suspend ROC President Alexander Zhukov as an IOC Member, given that his membership is linked to his position as ROC President.
VII. The IOC reserves the right to take measures against and sanction other individuals implicated in the system.
VIII. The ROC to reimburse the costs incurred by the IOC on the investigations and to contribute to the establishment of the Independent Testing Authority (ITA) for the total sum of USD 15 million, to build the capacity and integrity of the global anti-doping system.
IX. The IOC may partially or fully lift the suspension of the ROC from the commencement of the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 provided these decisions are fully respected and implemented by the ROC and by the invited athletes and officials.
X. The IOC will issue operational guidelines for the implementation of these decisions.

0

 

[Sylvia]

https://www.insidethegames.biz/arti...tive-board-decision-on-russian-doping-scandal

What does that mean for the team competitions? A neutral flag team?

Also (continued from above):

These invited athletes will participate, be it in individual or team competitions, in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 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.

ETA:

Minister Vitaly Mutko banned from Olympic Games for life

Other decisions include:

Not to accredit any official from the Russian Ministry of Sport for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

• To exclude the then Minister of Sport, Mr Vitaly Mutko, and his then Deputy Minister, Mr. Yuri Nagornykh, from any participation in all future Olympic Games.

• To withdraw Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, the former CEO of the Organising Committee Sochi 2014, from the Coordination Commission Beijing 2022.

• To suspend ROC President Alexander Zhukov as an IOC Member, given that his membership is linked to his position as ROC President.

• The IOC reserves the right to take measures against and sanction other individuals implicated in the system.

IOC to award Russia a $15 million fine

The Russian Olympic Committee must reimburse the costs incurred by the IOC on the investigations and "contribute to the establishment of the Independent Testing Authority for the total sum of USD 15 million, to build the capacity and integrity of the global anti-doping system.

 

[missing]

insidethegames also reports the following:

IOC to award Russia a $15 million fine
The Russian Olympic Committee must reimburse the costs incurred by the IOC on the investigations and "contribute to the establishment of the Independent Testing Authority for the total sum of USD 15 million, to build the capacity and integrity of the global anti-doping system.

 

[Karen-W]

It remains to be seen what Putin will do but the indefinite suspension of the ROC is not something they wanted. They wanted any ban to be for Pyeongchang and Pyeongchang only.

 

[BittyBug]

Let's see if Putin will allow them to participate. If he doesn't, I have a bad feeling these games.

 

[reut]

.

 

[caseyedwards]

Putin was very clear. This is humiliating and no Russian will be in Pyeongchang

 

[meggonzo]

Youtube stream is up now.

 

[Sylvia]

Putin was very clear. This is humiliating and no Russian will be in Pyeongchang

This is speculation/your assumption. Putin reportedly is scheduled to address this topic tomorrow (Wednesday).

Press conference is live now...

 

[Willin]

From insidethegames:

This panel will be guided in its decisions by the following principles:
a) No member of the leadership of the Russian Olympic Team at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 can be included on the invitation list.
b) No coach or medical doctor whose athlete has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation can be included on the invitation list. All coaches and medical doctors included on the invitation list must sign a declaration to this effect.
c) Any other requirement considered necessary to protect the integrity of the Olympic Games.
7. The IOC, at its absolute discretion, will ultimately determine the support staff and officials to be invited from the list.
III. Not to accredit any official from the Russian Ministry of Sport for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
IV. To exclude the then Minister of Sport, Mr Vitaly Mutko, and his then Deputy Minister, Mr Yuri Nagornykh, from any participation in all future Olympic Games.
V. To withdraw Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, the former CEO of the Organising Committee Sochi 2014, from the Coordination Commission Beijing 2022.
VI. To suspend ROC President Alexander Zhukov as an IOC Member, given that his membership is linked to his position as ROC President.
VII. The IOC reserves the right to take measures against and sanction other individuals implicated in the system.
VIII. The ROC to reimburse the costs incurred by the IOC on the investigations and to contribute to the establishment of the Independent Testing Authority (ITA) for the total sum of USD 15 million, to build the capacity and integrity of the global anti-doping system.
IX. The IOC may partially or fully lift the suspension of the ROC from the commencement of the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 provided these decisions are fully respected and implemented by the ROC and by the invited athletes and officials.
X. The IOC will issue operational guidelines for the implementation of these decisions.
0

Definitely seems fair. Because even if the Russian athletes themselves knew, ultimately it was the coaches, doctors, and other support staff who were responsible for creating the doping plans and giving the drugs to the athletes.

The neutral athlete thing also seems fair. They're not entirely taking away their home country's name (ie. stating "from Russia), but they are allowing the athletes to compete. It'll be good to have the Russian skaters there, although I wonder how this will affect the team event?

 

[Rock2]

I guess the big surprise here is the 'indefinite' suspension.

Next move is Putin, yes.
That, and the process to petition to participate. NYT article I read couldn't comment on process or how many would try or make it through.

My assumption is all with no history of violations will be able to petition which leaves most of the athletes in tact, especially in skating. Let's see if Russian Olympic Committee bothers to pursue.

 

[Ka3sha]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

 

[Vash01]

I see a huge celebration coming up worldwide and on fsu for getting rid of Russia. Now they can win more medals! I think it's unfair to the clean Russian athletes. I am disgusted but not surprised.

They would never take such an action against China which had done plenty of cheating in the summer Olympics.

I think Putin has too much ego to put up with the humiliation. I think he will boycott the Olympics entirely, I don't expect to see any Russian athletes in 2018 Olympics. Even if they did compete, it will be a demoralized group of athletes, which is what the rest of the world wanted,

 

[kwanfan1818]

There will be no references to Russia anywhere, except in the name of the team, which will be on the uniforms.

 

[meggonzo]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

Where was that announced??

 

[Polaris]

I see a huge celebration coming up worldwide and on fsu for getting rid of Russia. Now they can win more medals! I think it's unfair to the clean Russian athletes. I am disgusted but not surprised.

Shouldn't you be more disgusted that Russia encouraged systemic doping that led to these sanctions in the first place?

 

[ChelleC]

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

What????????

 

[missing]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

I'm sorry- where did you see this?

 

[Habs]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

???? Where did you see this? I haven't read/heard anything like that.

 

[caseyedwards]

This is speculation/assumption. Putin is scheduled to address this topic tomorrow (Wednesday).

Press conference is live now...

Based on his words. He said it would be total humiliation so how would he endorse Russia being humiliated?

 

[YourBorneo]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

See, this is how rumors get started.

 

[Habs]

Even if they did compete, it will be a demoralized group of athletes, which is what the rest of the world wanted,

Okay. You go ahead and think that.

 

[msmandaskates]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

If I'm reading the decision correctly (from post #4), it means that Russian leadership and officials from Sochi are barred, but not the athletes.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Where was that announced??

ETA: Didn't mean to post with just the link.

It applies to leadership.

The provisions for athlete invitations:

• 
  

  [*]The invitation list will be determined, at its absolute discretion, by a panel chaired by Valerie Fourneyron, Chair of the ITA. The panel will include members of the Pre-Games Testing Task Force: one appointed by WADA, one by the DFSU and one by the IOC, Dr Richard Budgett.
  
  
  [*]This panel will be guided in its decisions by the following principles:
  
  

  1. It can only consider athletes who have qualified according to the qualification standards of their respective sport.
     
     
  2. Athletes must be considered clean to the satisfaction of this panel:
     
     • Athletes must not have been disqualified or declared ineligible for any Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
       
       
     • Athletes must have undergone all the pre-Games targeted tests recommended by the Pre-Games Testing Task Force.
       
       
     • Athletes must have undergone any other testing requirements specified by the panel to ensure a level playing field.
       
     The IOC, at its absolute discretion, will ultimately determine the athletes to be invited from the list.

https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-su...te-in-pyeongchang-2018-under-the-olympic-flag

 

[skatingguy]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

Where are you getting this from? The decision says the team leadership is banned, it says nothing about athletes that competed at the Sochi 2014 Olympics being banned. They can compete as long at they are clean.

I see a huge celebration coming up worldwide and on fsu for getting rid of Russia. Now they can win more medals! I think it's unfair to the clean Russian athletes. I am disgusted but not surprised.

You should be ashamed of yourself. Russia flagrantly violates the rules, we have the proof, and you believe they should be able to do so without consequences. Russian athletes that are clean can compete at the Olympics.

 

[Vash01]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

This is extremely unfair. These athletes were Clean!

I wonder what the court of arbitration can do? Are they neutral or a puppet of the IOC? Can they work fast enough to change some of the decisions before the 2018 Olympics?

 

[rfisher]

I thought it said team leaders, not all athletes who were in Sochi