Russia contests ban from major sporting events over doping
Al JazeeraMoscow’s formal statement of disagreement with WADA will trigger appeal process at Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency has challenged a four-year ban from important sporting events, sending a letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency formally stating that it disagrees with their decision. Earlier this month, in a move President Vladimir Putin condemned as “unjust”, Russia was banned from the Olympic Games and world championships in a range of sport for four years after WADA ruled to punish it for manipulating laboratory data. The significant extent of state- The issue has dealt a colossal blow to the status of post-Soviet Russia as a major sport power after hosting events such as the 2013 World Athletics Championships, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 World Cup. The doping scandal has also divided Russian sport stars, with three-time world champion high jumper Mariya Lasitskene calling for sporting officials to be held to account over the ban.