IOC lifts doping ban on Russia, reinstates membership

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.

IMAGE: The logo of Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) is seen at the committee's headquarters in Moscow, Russia

Photograph: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters