MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The head of Russia’s Olympic Committee said on Wednesday that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had reinstated his organisation’s membership after suspending it over doping allegations.

“The Russian Olympic Committee has had its rights fully restored,” said Alexander Zhukov, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, in comments broadcast on state TV.

“It’s a decision of the utmost importance for us.”

Russians competed as neutrals in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics after the IOC suspended Russia in December, saying it had found evidence of an “unprecedented systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin Writing by Maria Tsvetkova Editing by Andrew Osborn)</s>Russia's Olympic suspension has been lifted with immediate effect, the International Olympic Committee has confirmed.

Russia was banned from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang due to state-sponsored doping at the Sochi games in 2014, although a total of 168 Russians were permitted to compete as part of a neutral 'Olympic Athlete from Russia' (OAR) team.

The IOC said today it had received all the remaining test results from the OAR delegation and confirmed that all were negative.

The IOC executive board decided on 25 February that the Russian Olympic Committee would have its suspension lifted in this scenario.

Two 'Olympic Athletes of Russia' failed drug tests in South Korea.

Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of the mixed doubles curling bronze medal he won with his wife Anastasia after testing positive for meldonium, which increases blood flow, while bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva was banned for using the banned heart condition product trimetazidine

"The Russian Olympic Committee has had its rights fully restored," said Alexander Zhukov, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, in comments broadcast on state TV.

 

 "It's a decision of the utmost importance for us."

The IOC confirmed this decision via a statement on their website.

"The final notification of all remaining test results from the Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR) delegation has been received from the Doping-Free Sport Unit (DFSU).

"The IOC can confirm that all the remaining results are negative.

"Therefore, as stated in the Executive Board decision of 25th February the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect."</s>After a major doping scandal limited Russia's participation at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the country's Olympic committee has been formally reinstated by the International Olympic Committee.

This comes after the IOC said remaining test results from Russians who competed in the games came back negative.

In December, the IOC announced that Russia's Olympic committee was suspended because of the state-sponsored cheating. As NPR's Bill Chappell has reported, their athletes could still compete – but under the title of "Olympic Athlete from Russia." Their uniforms bore the Olympic symbol and they carried the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony. One hundred and sixty-eight took part in the games as neutral athletes.

There was some speculation that Russia might be reinstated in time for the closing ceremony, allowing the athletes to march under the Russian flag. The country's Olympic committee paid some $15 million in fines.

But two Russian athletes failed doping tests — curling bronze medalist Alexander Krushelnitckii, whose mixed-doubles medal was stripped, and bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva. As Bill reported, the IOC said the failed tests and other factors "prevented the IOC from even considering lifting the suspension for the closing ceremony."

Now that all final results are in, the IOC says that Russia's suspension is "automatically lifted with immediate effect."

"We must turn this page," said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony for Olympians on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. "We must draw relevant conclusions for ourselves, but I hope that international organizations also will eventually understand that sports must be kept away from problems unrelated to it."

The IOC's decision to ban Russia was prompted by a report from the World Anti-Doping agency led by law professor Richard McLaren.

"Released in two phases, the McLaren report concluded that Russia's scheme involved more than 1,000 Russian athletes and that it also included plans both for manipulating doping controls and for covering up the system," Bill reported.

Figure skater Alina Zagitova won the only individual gold medal by an athlete from Russia at this year's games. Head here for Bill's account of that medal ceremony, where the Olympic anthem played instead of the Russian one.</s>ZURICH (Reuters) - The Russian Olympic Committee’s membership in the International Olympic Committee has been reinstated after Russian athletes tested negatively for doping, the IOC said on Wednesday.

“The suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect,” IOC said in a statement, confirming comments from the head of Russia’s Olympic Committee.

Russians competed as neutrals in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics after the IOC suspended Russia in December, saying it had found evidence of an “unprecedented systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system.</s>ZURICH, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Russian Olympic Committee’s membership in the International Olympic Committee has been reinstated after Russian athletes tested negatively for doping, the IOC said on Wednesday.

“The suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect,” IOC said in a statement, confirming comments from the head of Russia’s Olympic Committee.

Russians competed as neutrals in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics after the IOC suspended Russia in December, saying it had found evidence of an “unprecedented systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Michael Shields)</s>After a major doping scandal limited Russia's participation at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the country's Olympic committee has been formally reinstated by the International Olympic Committee.

This comes after the IOC said remaining test results from Russians who competed in the games came back negative.

In December, the IOC announced that Russia's Olympic committee was suspended because of the state-sponsored cheating. As NPR's Bill Chappell has reported, their athletes could still compete – but under the title of "Olympic Athlete from Russia." Their uniforms bore the Olympic symbol and they carried the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony. One hundred and sixty-eight took part in the games as neutral athletes.

There was some speculation that Russia might be reinstated in time for the closing ceremony, allowing the athletes to march under the Russian flag. The country's Olympic committee paid some $15 million in fines.

But two Russian athletes failed doping tests — curling bronze medalist Alexander Krushelnitckii, whose mixed-doubles medal was stripped, and bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva. As Bill reported, the IOC said the failed tests and other factors "prevented the IOC from even considering lifting the suspension for the closing ceremony."

Now that all final results are in, the IOC says that Russia's suspension is "automatically lifted with immediate effect."

"We must turn this page," said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony for Olympians on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. "We must draw relevant conclusions for ourselves, but I hope that international organizations also will eventually understand that sports must be kept away from problems unrelated to it."

The IOC's decision to ban Russia was prompted by a report from the World Anti-Doping agency led by law professor Richard McLaren.

"Released in two phases, the McLaren report concluded that Russia's scheme involved more than 1,000 Russian athletes and that it also included plans both for manipulating doping controls and for covering up the system," Bill reported.

Figure skater Alina Zagitova won the only individual gold medal by an athlete from Russia at this year's games. Head here for Bill's account of that medal ceremony, where the Olympic anthem played instead of the Russian one.</s>There were 168 Russians competing as neutral athletes at February's Winter Olympics

Russia's Olympic membership has been restored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following its suspension from Pyeongchang 2018.

Russia was banned from February's Games by the IOC over state-sponsored doping.

Despite the ban, 168 Russians competed as neutrals in South Korea, and two of them failed drugs tests.

The IOC planned to reinstate Russia after the Games - so long as there were no more failed tests - and it now says all remaining samples were negative.

"The suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect," it added in a statement.

The 168 Russians who competed in Pyeongchang as Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) had all been required to prove they were clean before the Games.

The OAR team was the third largest and won 17 medals, including two golds.

Why was Russia banned in the first place?

Media playback is not supported on this device IOC president: An 'unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympics'

The IOC in December banned Russia from competing in Pyeongchang, having concluded that it ran a systemic, state-sponsored doping programme during the Winter Olympics it hosted in Sochi in 2014.

Allegations of the country's doping programme had first surfaced in 2015, with whistleblowing doctor Grigory Rodchenkov, director of Russia's anti-doping laboratory during the Sochi Games, a key figure.

He alleged Russia ran a systematic programme of doping. He claimed he had created substances to enhance athletes' performances, and that the country's secret service had been helped switch urine samples to avoid detection.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) enlisted the services of Canadian law professor and sports lawyer Dr Richard McLaren to look into the allegations.

The McLaren report concluded 1,000 athletes across 30 sports benefited from the doping programme between 2012 and 2015.

Wada obtained what it said was a Russian laboratory database which it felt corroborated McLaren's conclusions, while retesting of Russian athletes' samples resulted in a host of retrospective bans and stripping of medals.

Russia is also banned from the 2018 Winter Paralympics in March but, again, some athletes will compete as neutrals.</s>The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday confirmed that the Russian Olympic Committee's membership had been restored.

The IOC's approval comes three days after the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, from which Russia was banned due to a state-backed doping program.

"As stated in the Executive Board decision of 25th February the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect," the IOC said in a statement on its official website.

Although two Russian athletes tested positive for doping at the PyeongChang Games, the IOC pointed out that "all remaining test results from the Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR) delegation" carried out in the last days of the Winter Games were negative.

Russian athletes were allowed to compete at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, but did not represent their country and instead appeared as Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Russian Committee said its membership had been restored by the IOC.

"The Russian Olympic Committee has had its rights fully restored," the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, said.

On Dec. 5, the IOC announced the suspension with immediate effect of the Russian committee after denouncing what it called an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sports, in reference to the accusations of state-backed doping in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.</s>The IOC barred the entire Russian Olympic team from the Games that concluded in South Korea on Sunday after investigations into state-sponsored doping. Only clean athletes were cleared to compete under a neutral flag, although two Russian athletes tested positive for banned substances during the games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reportedly lifted the ban on Russia that kept its team from wearing its colors, carrying the Russian flag and singing its anthem at the 2018 Winter Games.

The Real Lesson of the Russia Doping Scandal (Op-ed)

IOC member Shamil Tarpischev told the RBC business portal Wednesday that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has been reinstated, just days after the 2018 closing ceremony.

“Procedurally, Russia doesn’t have to do anything, the restoration of ROC membership occurred automatically, the IOC has no complaints,” Tarpischev was cited as saying.

ROC President Alexander Zhukov later confirmed the news, reading the IOC’s letter to the Russian delegation at a brief press conference.

“In other words, the Russian Olympic Committee has been fully reinstated in its rights as a member of the Olympic family,” Zhukov said in televised comments.</s>A Russian supporter waves a flag before the preliminary round of the men’s hockey game between the team from Russia and the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) A Russian supporter waves a flag before the preliminary round of the men’s hockey game between the team from Russia and the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Russia’s ban from the Olympic movement was lifted on Wednesday despite two failed doping tests by its athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The decision by the International Olympic Committee appears to be an attempt to draw a line under the state-concocted doping scandal that tarnished the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

The IOC allowed more than 160 athletes it determined were clean to compete in Sochi as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” in Pyeongchang earlier this month with a prohibition on the national anthem or flag in venues.

Russia’s hopes of marching under its flag at Sunday’s closing ceremony in South Korea were stymied by the two positive tests for banned substances, including a curler who had to forfeit his bronze medal. But the IOC said Wednesday that all remaining test results were negative, clearing the path for Russia’s return to the Olympic fold.

“Therefore, as stated in the executive board decision of 25th February, the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect,” the IOC said in a statement.

Related: Second Russian athlete tests positive for doping at Olympics

Russian athletes won two gold medals in Pyeongchang, in figure skating and ice hockey, along with six silver medals and nine bronze.

“I would like to thank our athletes who were able to perform well even despite the provocations,” Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov said in quotes carried by the TASS news agency. “I thank the fans who did not cross the line and what could result in sanctions. Today’s IOC’s decision is very important for us. The ROC is an absolutely full-fledged member of the Olympic family.”

Russia also complied with its financial sanctions last week by paying $15 million to pay for the IOC’s two investigations into the scheme and toward future anti-doping work.

Vitaly Smirnov, the head of an anti-doping commission set up by Russian President Vladimir Putin, did acknowledge on Wednesday that “we have a long way to go to get rid of the mistakes, which we made in the past.”

But Russia continues to deny there was state involvement in the plot, which included urine samples in supposedly tamper-proof bottles at the 2014 Olympics being swapped out for clean samples through a “mouse hole” in the wall at a laboratory in Sochi.

The IOC decision to reinstate Russia has no bearing on the International Paralympic Committee’s earlier ruling to maintain the country’s ban. The only Russians at the March 8-18 Pyeongchang Games will be known as “Neutral Paralympic Athletes,” mirroring the IOC’s compromise.

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The International Olympic Committee restores the Russian Federation's membership after the ban from the 2018 Winter Olympics.