MONTREAL, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was pleased that it won the case against Russia at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) although the CAS cut the original ban of four years to two.
The Swiss court Thursday upheld the sanctions against Russia which will prevent Russian athletes from competing at major international events including the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Beijing winter Olympics as well as the Qatar World Cup under the country's flag.
But the CAS handed a two-year ban instead of the four-year period of ineligibility originally imposed by WADA in late 2019.
"WADA is pleased to have won this landmark case. We left no stone unturned in investigating this very complex matter and in presenting our case before CAS," said WADA president Witold Banka.
"We are, however, disappointed that the CAS Panel did not endorse each and every one of our recommended consequences for the four-year period we requested," he said.
Still, Banka said the two-year ban from participate in, bid for or host any covered event for Russia "are still the strongest set of consequences ever imposed on any country for doping-related offences and the award clearly endorses the resolute, process-driven approach taken by WADA in dealing effectively with this case." Enditem
