Why Russia is Banned from Sporting Events including 2020 Olympics and 2022 FIFA World Cup?- Brief Report

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a ban to Russia from participating in all major sporting events including the 2020 Olympics at Tokyo and the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Qatar.  We have compiled a series of incidents from December 2014 to December 2019 that lead WADA to impose a huge decision on Russia.

December 2014:  German TV Documentary alleged that 99% of Russian athletes were guilty of doping.

November 2015:  In a shocking turn of events, WADA declared Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) as non-compliant and alleged that Russian track and field athletes involve in state-sponsored doping practices. The report also alleged corruption.

May 2016:  Grigory Rodchenkov who headed the anti-doping laboratory at Moscow, the capital of Russia became a whistleblower by admitting that dozens of Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi had cheated.

July 2016:  As per professor Richard Henry McLaren (one of the members of WADA commission), it was stated that Russia operated a state-sponsored doping programme for four years across the "vast majority" of summer and winter Olympic sport

August 2016:  International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed 271 Russian Athletes ( who proved themselves as not part of doping scandal) to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio under a neutral flag.

December 2016:  Yet another McLaren report was submitted by WADA according to which more than 1,000 Russian athletes benefited from doping.

January 2017: A list of criteria was given to Rusada and Russian Sports Authorities to prove before winning back recognition.

March 2017: WADA reported that Russia's anti-doping reforms were not happening sooner.

February 2018: IOC banned Russia from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics which was held in South Korea. However, 169 clean Russian Athletes ( who proved themselves as not part of doping scandal) were allowed to participate under a neutral flag.

May 2018:  WADA wrote to Russia with an offer of 'compromise' solution.

December 2019: WADA issued a ban on Russia from participating in all major sporting events for a period of 4 years which will include the 2020 Olympics at Tokyo and the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Qatar. However, individual Russian players can play under a neutral flag (i.e they cannot represent Russia and its flag) upon proving themselves as clean.