Russia Prohibited From Using Name, Flag At Next Two Olympic Games

It will be a while before Russia officially is represented at the Olympics again.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday ruled Russia will be prohibited from using its name, flag or anthem at the next two Olympic games and world championships, per The Associated Press. Russa is not permitted to bid on hosting major sporting events for the next two years, as well.

Russia is being punished for alegedly violating anti-doping rules during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The World Anti-Doping Agency had accused Russia of state-backed doping and covering it up by tampering with a testing laboratory database in Moscow.

Like during the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2021 Summer Games in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing should they not be involved in the doping scheme.

Teams and athletes may don their national colors — red, white and blue — on their uniforms. The word “Russia” can be displayed as long as the phrases “Neutral Athlete” or “Neutral Team” are equally present.

Russia can appeal the Swiss court’s decision. Otherwise, it will be eligible to return to the Olympics for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.