RUSSIA BAN IN TOKYO OLYMPICS STAYS BUT COURT SHORTENS SUSPENSION TO 2 YEARS

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced it upheld Russia's ban from next year's postponed Tokyo Olympics, but shortened a four-year suspension to two years, Kyodo news agency reported.

Russia's anti-doping agency RUSADA had appealed the sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in December last year that barred Russia's flag, anthem and country name from competitions, including the Olympics, for four years.

While refusing to overturn the ban, the court reduced the suspension, which will now end on Dec. 16, 2022.

The suspension means only Russian athletes who meet certain criteria will be permitted to compete as neutrals at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics or the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2022. It also impacts Russia's participation in other world championships such as soccer's 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

In response, RUSADA announced it was not completely satisfied with the decision and could appeal the judgment to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. But Mikhail Bukhanov, the agency's acting head, later described the outcome as a "victory for Russia."

The decision follows a four-day arbitration hearing held last month centering on WADA's accusation that Russia tampered with drug testing data retrieved from the Moscow Laboratory in Jan. 2019.

WEEKLY FEATURE

CHINKEE TAN SEEKS TO CREATE 100 MILLIONAIRES IN 2021