MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday it would not organize or give patronage to any sporting events in Russia, including the 2019 European Games in light of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report accusing Russia of overseeing a state-wide doping program.
On Monday, an independent commission led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren presented a report, accusing Russia of having run a state-sponsored doping program. WADA then called on the IOC to consider declining entries from all athletes submitted by the Russian Olympic and Paralympic committees for the upcoming Olympic Games.
"The IOC will not organise or give patronage to any sports event or meeting in Russia. This includes plans for the European Games 2019 organised by the European Olympic Committees," the statement read.
The IOC asked all International Olympic Winter Sports Federations to freeze preparations for major sporting events in Russia and look for alternative organizers.
