This is a fascinating story that is ongoing...
From the AP:
"The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has refused to reinstate Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), declaring it to still be non-compliant with the global sports watchdog’s rules and raising the risk Russian athletes could be banned from the South Korean-hosted Winter Olympics in February 2018."
What this means is still a bit unknown...partially because a large part of being compliant requires the Russians to to acknowledge the findings of a damning July 2016 WADA-commissioned report that found systemic, state-sponsored doping in Russia.
The Russians are apparently "NO where close" to accepting such a term.
It was just two months ago that WADA dismissed all but one of the first 96 Russian doping cases forwarded its way from sports federations acting on information that exposed cheating in the country. But there are thousands of other cases still being looked at.
The other issue keeping the Russians from compliance is their refusal to access to test samples in a sealed Moscow anti-doping laboratory.
The Russians claim the samples are part of their own Federal investigation and therefore evidence that can not be jeopardized...
This whole thing really is terrible for many hard working Russian athletes and para-olympians.
WHAT SAY YOU?
Should Russia be allowed to participate despite these conditions not being met?
Also....make sure you check out the earlier blog today regarding the Vancouver Canucks possibly being sellers.