![Russia Banned From 2018 Winter olympics](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2017/12/GettyImages-477574271.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Russia Banned From 2018 Winter olympics
The International Olympic Committee has hit Russia with its equivalent of the NCAA's "Death Penalty." The New York Times reports, Russia is banned from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The ban is comprehensive. Russian government officials are barred from attendance. The Russian national anthem won't be played. The country's flag will not be displayed. Individual Russian athletes will be allowed to compete, but not representing their country. Russia won't be included in any medal counts. The penalty was handed down after a systematic national doping program was uncovered. The program was reportedly so broad it involved corrupting the testing program, including the laboratories.
More From 99.9 KTDY
![Louisiana Teen Brags About Having Drugs, Leads to His Arrest](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2020/09/RS24927_GettyImages-904115154-Copy.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![NFL Owner Found Unresponsive After Apparent Drug Overdose](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2023/09/attachment-GettyImages-1677376677.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana State Police Stop Big Rig with Lots of Drugs Inside](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2023/12/attachment-Louisiana-State-Police-Drug-Bust-Photo-courtesy-of-LSP-Facebook.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Squirrelympics 3.0 Has Finally Arrived](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2022/10/attachment-Squirrel.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Revealed – Why Are Olympic Athletes Wearing Tape on Their Faces?](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/02/attachment-Athlete-with-Tape-on-Face-TODAY-via-YouTube.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![OLYMPICS: Video Shows Chinese Ice Skater Sabotage Canadian Opponent](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2022/02/attachment-Canada-Chinese-Skaters-via-Reddit.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Olympics Quarantine Food So ‘Inedible’ Athletes Are ‘Crying Every Day’](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2022/02/attachment-untitled_design.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Residents Create ‘Cajun’ Olympic Events](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/02/attachment-dave-kim-xNpOmuFIUNY-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Move Over White Claw, ‘Long Drink’ is the Next Big Beverage](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2021/12/attachment-Long-Drink-boozedancing-via-YouTube.jpg?w=980&q=75)