Top IOC officials are "considering a menu of possible penalties against Russia for doping violations, including barring the country’s national anthem at the coming Winter Olympics" and keeping its delegation of athletes out of the opening ceremony, sources with knowledge of the deliberations said, according to Tariq Panja of the N.Y. TIMES. With less than 100 days to go before the PyeongChang Games begin, Olympic officials "are under intense pressure to announce their decision on how Russia will be punished for corrupting several Olympics." It is "unclear which, if any, option" the IOC leadership favors at this point. It is possible that "any punishment will be far less severe." The IOC and Russian officials are engaged in a "doping stare down." Many athletes, anti-doping officials and Olympics officials from some countries are urging IOC President Thomas Bach to issue "severe penalties." Top Olympic officials are also considering the option of having Russian athletes "compete under a neutral flag" at the PyeongChang Games or "wear neutral uniforms," according to sources. They added that the IOC is "unlikely to impose a total ban on Russia, an Olympic heavyweight, though it could issue a significant financial penalty," expel athletes and officials found to have been part of the doping scheme and "remove any mention of Russia from the field of play." Russian officials have threatened to pull their athletes out of the PyeongChang Games altogether "if the sanctions are too harsh." A decision is expected to be made on Dec. 5 (N.Y. TIMES, 11/6).
