NHL Players’ Return to the Winter Olympics May be Closer than Expected

On February 8, 2020, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tweeted that “the [International Olympic Committee] and [International Ice Hockey Federation] indicated a willingness . . . to address NHL issues to get players to go to 2022 Olympics.” This is a significant change in the NHL’s previous anti-Olympic stance.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea marked the first time in 20 years that NHL players were absent. The players were overwhelmingly in favor of playing in the 2018 games; however, the NHL balked at the …

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Russia Banned From 2020 and 2022 Olympics, 2022 World Cup for Doping Violations

Russia has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from participating in or hosting various sporting events, including the 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup.

As we reported earlier, the Russian track-and-field team was banned from the 2016 Summer Olympics by the International Association of Athletics Federations. This ban was a result of a systematic doping cover-up and the lack of compliance from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). The Russian Olympic team was later banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics due to extensive doping …

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USOC Moves to Revoke USA Gymnastics’ Official Governing Body Status

On November 5, 2018, the CEO of the United States Olympic Committee (“USOC”), Sarah Hirshland, announced that the USOC moved to revoke USA Gymnastics’ status as the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics. The announcement comes after USA Gymnastics struggled during the Larry Nassar sex-abuse scandal. According to Hirshland, “[t]oday the United States Olympic Committee has filed a complaint … seeking to revoke [USA Gymnastics’] recognition as a member National Governing Body of the USOC.”

Reportedly, Hirshland and the USOC ultimately decided …

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Ryan Lochte Facing 14-Month Suspension for IV Infusion

12-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, Ryan Lochte, is currently facing a 14-month suspension for violating World Anti-Doping Agency regulations. The unintended reprieve comes at the swimmer’s own hand – his suspension is a direct response to his social media post, which showed him receiving an intravenous infusion. The photo came to the attention of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which became suspicious and launched an investigation, ultimately finding that although the substances comprising the treatment were permissible, the volume of the substance exceeded the permissible …

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Jamaican Relay Team Loses 2008 Gold Medals with Dismissal of Doping Appeal

On May 31, 2018, in its Lausanne, Switzerland headquarters, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided the appeal of doping allegations pinned against Olympic gold medalist Nesta Carter.  Carter competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics alongside teammate Usain Bolt and others in the Jamaican relay team, winning a gold medal. Immediately following the win, the International Olympic Committee took urine samples from the competitors in order to determine whether they had been in violation of any anti-doping rule at the time of their participation. Although …

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Russia Banned from 2018 Olympics; “Clean” Athletes May Compete under Neutral Uniform

Russia’s Olympic team has been banned from the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The country’s government officials are forbidden to attend, its flag will not be displayed at the opening ceremony, its anthem will not sound, and the official record books will show Russia won zero medals. The Russian Olympic Committee was also fined $15 million and ordered to reimburse the IOC’s costs of the investigation. Vitaly Mutko, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and former Minister of Sport, has also been …

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Ten Month Ban for Ryan Lochte Following Brazil Gas Station Incident

U.S. swimmer and twelve-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte has been suspended for 10 months as a result of the incident that occurred at a Brazil gas station during the 2016 Olympics. In addition, Lochte will be banned from the 2017 world championship meet in Budapest next July.

The ban arises out of an incident in which Lochte and several other American swimmers fabricated a story about being held at gunpoint and robbed while they were out by men they believed to be police officers. …

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IAAF Denies 67 Russian Athletes from Olympics

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has denied the applications of 67 Russian track and field athletes for the upcoming Rio Olympics, allowing only long jumper Darya Klishina the opportunity to compete. The Russian track and field organization has been under intense scrutiny for doping violations brought to light by whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, a middle distance runner who has since left the country.

The report from Stepanova resulted in a ban of Russian track and field athletes by the IAAF, which was renewed last …

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Russian Whistleblower is “Exceptionally Eligible” for Competition

Amid Russia’s widespread doping scandal and in the face of the Russian athletes ban, one particular athlete received a reprieve. Yuliya Stepanova, a Russian track athlete, will be allowed to run as a “neutral athlete” in the European Championships and potentially compete in the 2016 Olympics.

Stepanova and her husband, Vitaly, exposed the scale of the Russian team’s systemic doping scheme. Vitaly worked as an official in the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. In 2011, Stepanova was banned from international competition following abnormalities in her “biological …

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Nike Throws in the Towel in Lawsuit Against Rival New Balance over Sponsorship of Expectant Olympian

In a surprise move Nike decided to drop its lawsuit attempting to prevent American 800 meter World Champion runner Boris Berian from wearing rival shoe company New Balance. On June 23, 2016, Nike voluntarily dismissed its sponsorship dispute in an Oregon federal court where they recently sought to expedite the process in order to determine Berian’s sponsorship for the upcoming U.S. Olympic track and field trials on July 1, 2016.

Berian is a fascinating story in the world of track and field having worked as …

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