Why are Russian athletes allowed to compete?
Technically, Russia is banned from competing in the Olympics. But like the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Russian athletes are still participating at the 2022 Winter Olympics. That's because they are competing under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee, or ROC for short.
Russian athletes are only able to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag due to an ongoing ban over the country's previous doping violations. Doping regulators contend this punishment is justified, given the country's cover-up.
In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC EB recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.
The agency had been declared "non-compliant" by WADA in November 2015 after a report found evidence of mass doping in Russian athletics. The WADA sanctions, among other things, barred Russia from flying its flag at major sporting events for a four-year period.