Court of Arbitration for Sport lifts life bans of 28 Russians accused of doping

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, sport’s top court ruled there was “insufficient” evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia.

CAS said in its judgement: “In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) was committed by the athletes concerned.”

The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing at Pyeongchang as a team over the doping scandal, although 169 Russian competitors have been cleared to take part as neutrals.

The International Olympic Committee also aid the 28 Russians who had their life bans lifted by sport’s top court did not “automatically” allow them to compete at the Pyeongchang Games.

“Not to be banned does not automatically confer the privilege of an invitation” to the 2018 Games in South Korea, the IOC explained in a statement.