Russia Banned From 2018 Winter Olympics

Russia is effectively banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics over widespread doping. The International Olympic Committee released the decision Tuesday. Our guest examines doping in sports. He says the IOC is taking an unprecedented stand. He argues it veers away from typical treatment of athletes who use drugs to enhance their performance. We discuss details of government-sanctioned doping, the history of drugs in sports, and how countries use international athletics to gain power.

Should Russian athletes have to sit out the 2018 Winter Olympics? Will it feel like a real win if Russians don’t compete? Can you sense politics in the games, or do you think it’s all about athletics? Share your thoughts in an email to ideas@wpr.org. You can also tweet @wprmornings or post on the Ideas Network Facebook page.