Photo: USATSI
Russia has been banned for the next four years from the Olympics and global sports the World Anti-Doping Agency announced on Monday.
Athletes can still play under a neutral flag if they prove they were not affected by the doping scandal. The Russian flag and anthem will not be allowed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin spoke to the media about his home country’s ban in the world’s biggest sporting event. “It’s bad. I feel bad for people working so hard for this moment and they can’t be there,” he said.
Ovechkin on the Russian Olympic ban: “It’s always disappointing to hear something like that. I hope everything’s going to be well. We still have a long time ‘til the Olympics to figure out what to do. What’s better to do. Hope everything’s going to be fine.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 9, 2019
More Ovechkin: “I just heard it today. Obviously, it’s sad news but I think gonna have more information later. It’s bad. I feel bad for people working so hard for this moment and they can’t be there. I just hear it right before practice, so I don’t have much information on it.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 9, 2019
Ovi on the news of World Anti-Doping Agency banning Russia from Olympics and Global sports for four years pic.twitter.com/VjUkMiTkwJ
— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 9, 2019
Ovechkin did not play for Russia in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but did play in three Winter Olympics prior.
By Della Young
Ovi just can’t seem to catch a break with the Olympics.
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