Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Russian Doping Scandal Ahead Of Rio Olympics

If there's one country that's facing international ridicule running up to the Rio Olympics it is definitely Russia. That's why doping in sports is nothing less than cheating. And when it comes to Russia, they have been hard core at it. At least that's what substantial reports have claimed across the world.

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Rampant cases of doping across disciplines and tournaments have forced the International Olympic Council to take stringent measures to censure the Olympic nation. Media attention grew regarding Russia's tryst with doping when a German TV network ARD reported on state-sponsored doping in Russia.

All but two athletes banned from competing in Rio

With as many questions being raised as answers concerning Russian doping ahead of Olympics, here's a lowdown on what has been established so far:

# Rampant Doping

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A report by Canadian Law Professor Richard McLaren has brought to light that Russian sports ministry directed, controlled and oversaw the manipulation of test results and 'sample swapping' in various labs across Russia from 2011 to August 2015. McLaren's report termed the system as Disappearing Positive Methodology that affected all Russian sports as details of cover-up tests from 29 Olympics sports were reported, including Paralympic sports.

# The Probe That Brought It To Light

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An independent committee was setup in 2015 to probe claims of widespread doping in Russia. The probe commission announced in November last year that there were evidences of extensive doping in track and field sports. This resulted in banning and suspension of many athletes and coaches. the International Association of Athletics Federations barred Russia from competing internationally. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) declared the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and its Moscow lab non-complaint with its code.

# The Dope Of Sochi 2014

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That there was massive doping during the 2014 Winter Olympics that was hosted by Russia was established in McLaren's report. McLaren quotes Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, who pointed how Russian athletes doped in the Olympics and avoided tested positive for banned substances. According to a report in the New York Times, Rodchenkov said that a Russian Federal Security Service agent 'replaced dirty urine of athletes with clean ones in bottles which were previously thought to be tamper proof'.

# Revelations By Yuliya Stepanova

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A 800m distance runner, Yuliya Stepanova took banned performance-enhancing drugs. She got suspended for two years. She confessed it in front of authorities, got her banned lifted. But now, because of her revelations in public that have helped IOC unearthed a massive doping scandal in Russia, she might not have a country to represent in Rio Olympics, for which she has cleared the qualifying mark.

# How Russia Has Reacted

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Russia has suspended many of the officials that have been mentioned in McLaren's report. Many Athletes, anti-doping officials and WADA itself have called for a total ban of Russia for the Rio Games. IOC president Thomas Bach called the findings "a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games" and vowed the IOC would not hesitate to "take the toughest sanctions" against implicated individuals and organizations.

# Russia Close To Being Banned From Olympics

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The IOC is expected to reply on the issue very soon. And what they are contemplating is "will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice." It is waiting on an arbitration decision later this week that could impact its legal ability to ban the country. Also, some ad-hoc steps have been taken by the IOC to not give accreditation to the officials who have been implicated in the McLaren report. And for those athletes who competed in Sochi 2014, their samples will be thoroughly probed, along with their coaches, officials and support staff.

# The Court Hearing In Russian Athletics Case

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The IOC is waiting for a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) expected on Thursday. Considered the final authority in meting out justice to sportspersons and bodies, CAS is hearing a challenge to the ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) on the Russian Olympic Committee and its 68 Olympic athletes. The IAAF, however has been lenient towards those Russian athletes who can prove that they've not come under the Russian system and have a clean anti-doping history.

# Under Which Flag Will 'Clean' Athletes Compete?

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CAS' decision could result in the IOC contemplating a ban of Russian athletes completely with exceptions to those who can prove their 'clean anti-doping record. However, if these athletes do get a shot to play in Rio, under which flag will they be? According to IAAF, these players will be called neutral athletes and not compete for Russia. The IOC has already allowed a 10-person refugee team to compete under its flag. This means that if they win a gold medal, the Olympic anthem will be played but not their country's national anthem.