Written by Corentin Delon, Johann Lemaire, Enzo Padovan.
Sport has always been a key element of Russian national identity and a tool for international influence. The Soviet sports’ imagination is one of the most striking illustrations of this. Before 2014, Russia enjoyed a particularly extensive presence in international sporting arenas. The country hosted major events such as the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980 and the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. Sport remains not only a source of national pride, but also a means for the country to demonstrate its power on the world stage. Russian (or Soviet) sporting legends include Lev Yashin, the legendary Soviet goalkeeper who revolutionised both the discipline and the style of goalkeeping. Before Yashin’s arrival, the usual practice of most goalkeepers was passive play. However, he changed this forever with his active presence on the pitch and his mastery of defence. In particular, he introduced running out to meet attacks, a practice which has subsequently been accepted as the norm in the sport. We also like to mention Anatoli Karpov, Russian chess legend, or Vladislav Tretiak (ice hockey).
However, since 2014, relations between the Kremlin and international sports organisations have undergone a radical transformation, reflecting issues far beyond the sporting arena. The annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine have not only triggered economic and political sanctions, but have also had profound repercussions on the sporting arena. At the same time, revelations of systematic doping have highlighted the tensions between aspirations for power and sporting ethics. This complex dynamic, rooted as much in historical-political reflection as in culture, raises questions about the role of sport as a vector of soft power and national identity.
Our aim is to provide a coherent, practical analysis of the changing relationship between Russian power and international sporting bodies.
Sporting Sanctions and Exclusions (2014-2018)
Immediate impact of the Ukrainian crisis
The Ukrainian crisis and the McLaren report had an immediate impact on Russian sport. This impact was illustrated by measures taken by various sporting organisations to punish Russia. The first sanctions included the cancellation or transfer of sporting events planned in the country, as well as the suspension of Russian sports federations from some international competitions. For example, the International Ski Federation (FIS) cancelled all ski events scheduled in Russia for the 2014-2015 season. European and world sports federations also reacted swiftly, imposing sanctions that restricted Russia’s participation at various levels. Federations such as FIFA and UEFA played a key role in these decisions. In 2014, the International Biathlon Federation (IBU) also moved Biathlon World Cup events scheduled in Russia to other countries.
Accusations of systematic doping
Alongside the Ukrainian crisis, Russia has faced serious accusations of systematic doping, culminating in the publication of the McLaren Report during 2016. This report, commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and produced by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, revealed a system of state-sponsored doping in Russia, involving hundreds of athletes and several Russian sporting institutions. The report’s findings shook the sporting world and led to severe sanctions against Russia. “An institutional conspiracy was set up for winter and summer sports with the participation of the Ministry of Sports and its departments such as the Russian anti-doping agency (Rusada) (…) the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, alongside the FSB (secret services), in order to manipulate doping controls”, McLaren explained at a press conference.
This system was allegedly set up as early as 2011 and lasted until August 2015, benefiting Russian athletes in numerous summer and winter Olympic sports at international competitions held in Russia (World Swimming Championships in 2011, Athletics Championships in 2013, Fencing Championships in 2014 and 2015…).
One of the most notable measures was Russia’s exclusion from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Although some Russian athletes were allowed to compete under a neutral banner, Russia as a nation was largely excluded from the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This historic decision highlighted the scale of the doping problem in Russia and marked a turning point in the fight against doping in international sport.
Russia’s reactions
Russia reacted to these accusations and sanctions with official statements and denials. The Russian authorities denied the existence of a state doping program and criticised the measures taken by international sports bodies. However, in an attempt to regain the trust of sporting bodies, Russia also took internal measures. These included restructuring anti-doping agencies, adopting new, stricter anti-doping policies and increasing cooperation with WADA and other international organisations.
In sum, the period from 2014 to 2018 was marked by significant sanctions and exclusions for Russian sport, in response to the Ukrainian crisis and revelations of systematic doping. These events not only impacted Russia’s participation in international competitions, but also triggered internal reforms aimed at restoring the integrity of sport in Russia.
The long-term consequences (2018-2022)
The Pyeongchang Olympic Games
On 5 December 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) excluded Russia from the Pyeongchang Winter Games. Russian athletes must compete under the banner of the Olympic Athletes of Russia (AOR) due to the Schmid report, which reveals systematic manipulation of anti-doping rules in Russia, particularly during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Samuel Schmid, Chairman of the Commission, described the situation as “unprecedented manipulation”.
Four years after the Sochi Games and shortly before the football World Cup in Russia, Russian sporting ethics are under heavy criticism. 168 AOR athletes are taking part in the 2018 Winter Games, with only 45 suspended, making Russia the third most represented nation in South Korea.
Grigory Rodchenkov, former director of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory and now a whistleblower, has publicly accused the Russian sports minister, Vitali Moutko, of supervising doping. Since 2015, as a refugee in the United States, Rodchenkov has denounced the cheating and denial mentality in Russia, declaring: “Russia remains a country of dopers”.
The results for AOR athletes in Pyeongchang were mixed: 17 medals (2 gold, 6 silver, 9 bronze), compared with 29 in Sochi. These results confirmed the accusations of doping, leaving a feeling of failure. A few months before the football World Cup, Russia was criticised for its lack of sporting fairness, freedom of expression and political corruption.
The 2018 Football World Cup
The football cup is the most watched sporting event in the world. The 2022 World Cup final, for example, attracted more than 1.5 billion viewers. In 2018, Russia was responsible for organising the competition.
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