Olympics: Doping: Russia increases pressure on IOC

In the dispute over his athletes’ participation in the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, Russia is increasing the pressure. The KHL threatens to ban all players from parking if the IOC decides to exclude Russia completely or if Russian athletes start as “neutral athletes” only.

“The IOC is dismantling the existing world order in sport,” said KHL President Dimitri Tschernychenko:”We do not accept the situation that the IOC gives in to informants and commissions and blocks athletes, even if there are no facts of doping offences”.

Chernychenko also referred to the action of the North American ice hockey league NHL. After lengthy negotiations, the NHL decided not to take a break during the Winter Games. The KHL is ready to give a response,”said Chernychenko.

A possible ban on parking would further devalue the Olympic ice hockey tournament and hit many countries hard. The NHL stars have brought players from the KHL, which is regarded as the second best league in the world, into the focus of the Olympics in many countries. For example, more than a dozen KHL pros are currently in the provisional squad of Olympic champion Canada. The German team would not be affected.

According to the industry service insidethegames. com, world association president Rene Fasel explained that a ban on parking would violate the rules of the IIHF. A total of 27 teams are playing in the KHL, 21 of which come from Russia.

On Wednesday, the IOC had suspended the Russian cross-country skiing Olympic champion Alexander Legkov and his team mate Yevgeny Belov for all their functions for the Olympic Games. Both are accused of having benefited from the Russian doping program run by the state during the 2014 Sochi Games. The IOC intends to take a decision on penalising Russia as a whole in December. Chernychenko was head of the organizing committee in 2014.