Russia has challenged the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) four-year ban imposed on it. Yuri Gannas, head of Russia's anti-doping agency, said on Friday that as part of the due process, we have sent documents to WADA. It also has a notice disagreeing with the ban. He has also sent a letter to WADA in which he has again clarified his tough stand against doping. Russia's anti-doping agency has long claimed stern action against doping. Gannas however, said, "It is practically impossible to fight against the WADA Ban. Russia should accept this ban and rectify its mistake and bring changes in the system." Gannas' attitude towards doping has always been stricter.
WADA banned Russia for sending their athletes wrong samples. As a Result, WADA bans Russia from participating in the Olympics and the 2022 Football World Cup. Expressing displeasure over the action of the WADA, the Russian President described it as politically motivated. He had said that Russia would fight a legal battle against this ban. Russia is the ninth country to be banned in the Olympics. If the ban continues, then for the first time a country's flag will not be seen due to doping. Earlier, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary, Japan and Germany were banned in Olympics for participating in the World War.
South Africa (due to apartheid) and Afghanistan (due to Taliban atrocities on women) have also been banned. Russian players could not participate in 2016 due to doping in athletics, rowing, weightlifting and canoeing. Despite this, Russia won 19 gold medals.
