BEIJING, (Reuters) – The Russian Olympic athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics this month will not be wearing their national anthem and flag due to doping sanctions.

These are the reasons why Russian sports were sanctioned and their implications for athletes.

WHY IS RUSSIA SUSPECTED OF SANCTIONS?

In December 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, imposed sanctions on RUSADA (Russia’s anti-doping authority). There were a variety of implications for Russian sport at the international level.

WADA stated that Russian authorities “brazenly, illegally manipulated data” from Moscow Laboratory (NYSE;), even though their surrender was a condition of RUSADA’s restoration.

WADA declared the agency “uncompliant” in November 2015. This was after an investigation revealed evidence of doping in Russian sports.

WADA sanctioned Russia, among others, for four years, preventing it from flying the flag at sporting events. After an appeal from Russia, the sanctions were eventually reduced by half.

WHAT HAS RUSSIA TO DO ABOUT IT?

RUSADA appealed the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision.

The sport’s top court, CAS, ruled in December 2020 that the sanctions would be partially enforced but halved to two years. These sanctions will expire on December 16, 2022.

Russia is prohibited from bidding for or hosting major sporting events internationally, such as the Olympic and World Championships.

These laws also prohibit the country’s flag from being flown and its national anthem performed at such events.

WHAT IS THIS PORTANT FOR RUSSIAN ATHLETES BEIJING-WELL?

Russian athletes are not allowed to display their tricolour flags, national emblems, or symbols, as part of their Beijing delegation.

Athletes are not competing to represent Russia but rather compete as representatives for the Russian Olympic Committee, under the “ROC” acronym.

The logo of Russia’s Olympic Committee is on their uniforms — three flames with Olympic rings under them in the colors of Russia — rather than Russia’s flag.

Russian Olympic champions are to be presented with their gold medals for Pyotr Tachikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1. This was chosen to replace the national anthem.

What does this mean for RUSSIAN OFFICIALS

Russian officials can’t participate in the Olympics or be present due to sanctions. However, there are some exceptions to the rule.

Senior officials invited by the heads of states of host countries can still attend. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was invited to Beijing Games by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He will take over from many foreign dignitaries that are refusing to attend the opening ceremony.

WHAT HAS RUSSIANS COMPETED IN PREVIOUS OLYMPICS?

The same restrictions will apply to Russians participating in Beijing as those who participated in the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year.

Russia also lost its flag to South Korea at 2018 Pyeongchang Games Winter Games. It was there as a consequence of state-sponsored Doping in the Sochi Games 2014.

In response to an WADA-commissioned study that showed systematic doping throughout a wide range of Olympic disciplines, many Russians were banned from Rio Summer Games 2016.

Russia acknowledged its shortcomings in anti-doping regulations implementation, but denied running any state-sponsored doping program.