Russian Athletes Face Losing Olympic Medals Over Doping Claims

Russian athletes accused of doping in a new report could be stripped of their Olympics medals.

The International Olympic Committee has asked the global body for athletics to begin proceedings against several athletes named in a new report by the World Anti-Doping Agency that alleges widespread doping sanctioned by state authorities.

“The IOC has asked the [International Association of Athletics Federations] to initiate disciplinary procedures against all athletes, coaches and officials who have participated in the Olympic Games and are accused of doping in the report of the independent commission,” the IOC Executive Board said in a statement Tuesday.

At the heart of Monday’s report from the World Anti-Doping Agency were Russian athletes and officials, who were recommended lifetime bans, including Maria Savinova and Ekaterina Poistogova, respectively the gold and bronze medalists for the women’s 800m at the 2012 London Olympics.

“With its zero-tolerance policy against doping, following the conclusion of this procedure,” the report stated, “the IOC will take all the necessary measures and sanctions with regard to the withdrawal and reallocation of medals and as the case may be exclusion of coaches and officials from future Olympic Games.”

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack was suspended provisionally from his honorary IOC membership. This after a criminal investigation began last week into whether Diack took more than $1 million in hush money to cover up positive Russian drug tests.

American Alysia Montaño finished fifth in the women’s 800m in 2012. She has been vocal online about the doping allegations: