Breaking: Russians are out of the Olympics!

The Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended and all athletes from Russia will have to compete under a neutral flag at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. 

It was been ruled by the International Olympic Committee, who examined the findings of a 16-month investigation into Russia's doping and cheating at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Here is the statement from IOC President Thomas Bach:

"This was an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport. The IOC Executive Board, after following due process, has issued proportional sanctions for this systemic manipulation while protecting the clean athletes. This should draw a line under this damaging episode and serve as a catalyst for a more effective anti-doping system led by WADA. As an athlete myself, I feel very sorry for all the clean athletes from all NOCs who are suffering from this manipulation. Working with the IOC Athletes’ Commission, we will now look for opportunities to make up for the moments they have missed on the finish line or on the podium.""

Russia can challenge the IOC sanction with an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Individual Russian athletes will be invited to the Olympics under the following guidelines. They would compete under the neutral flag, the Olympic flag, and with a uniform bearing the neutral name. The Olympic anthem would be played at any ceremony.

As for players from the KHL, nothing has been announced yet. Other federations are still awaiting the decision.