Olympia 2018: Ice hockey with KHL-Cracks

Professionals from the Russian KHL can participate in the Olympic Games 2018 in Pyeongchang. This was decided by the ice hockey league one day after Russia’s general announcement of participation in the Winter Games under a neutral flag. Russia’s athletes, if proven to be clean, are allowed to compete despite the state doping scandal in South Korea.

Prior to the IOC’s decision to expel Russia, the KHL had threatened an Olympic boycott that would have denied participation to non-Russian league players. Irrespective of the KHL decision, the tournament in Pyoengchang has to do without NHL players. The best league in the world doesn’t take a break this time because of the games.