Sports Pulse: USA TODAY Sports reporter Rachel Axon breaks down the IOC's decision to ban Russia from the Winter Olympics. USA TODAY Sports
On their face, the sanctions against Russian athletes for doping look tough. In addition to disqualification of their results from Sochi, each of the more than two dozen cases an International Olympic Committee panel has decided so far have resulted in a lifetime ban from the Games.
Effectively, it’s meant to keep those individuals from coming back in any capacity. Practically, it’s unlikely to stand, experts say.
The sanction goes against two previous cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the IOC lost another case before Rio that relied on those prior decisions.