Why some Russian athletes will be eligible to compete at the Paris Olympics
Despite antipathy between the Russian government and the International Olympic Committee a handful will compete
RUSSIA IS AN Olympic powerhouse. The country has finished near the top of the medal table at every summer Olympics since 1984, when it opted not to participate in protest at the games being held in Los Angeles. Even at the Tokyo games in 2021, when the Russian team was officially banned, athletes competing under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee managed to win 71 medals and finish fifth. But this success will not be repeated in Paris. Only a small number of Russians were invited; many of them have refused to compete. Why?
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