28 Feb 2020

Russia appeal over Olympic ban won't be heard in public

6:32 am on 28 February 2020

The World Anti-Doping Agency last year barred Russians from competing under their country's flag at major international events, including this year's Tokyo Olympics, for four years after it found that Moscow had provided it with doctored lab data.

A woman smokes in front of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) headquarters in Moscow on November 26, 2019. - Russia's anti-doping chief said on November 26, 2019 he expected the country to be barred from all sporting competition for four years,

Russia's Olympic headquarters in Moscow Photo: (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)

The sanctions also bar Russia from hosting or bidding for major sporting events for a four-year period.

Although WADA had requested that the hearing be held in public, the Court has decided it would take place behind closed doors as the parties couldn't agree on a public process.

-Reuters