SportsPulse: USA Today Sports' Rachel Axon discuss Russian doping in the Olympics and the coming decisions for Russia in Pyeongchang in 2018. USA TODAY Sports
MOSCOW (AP) — When the International Olympic Committee board prepares to vote Tuesday on whether to ban Russia from February's Winter Olympics, its members will decide the fate of numerous medals yet to be won.
If there's a blanket ban on Russia for its doping offenses at the 2014 Olympics — or restrictions that prompt Russia to boycott the 2018 Games — it could mean the end of compelling storylines and a slide into irrelevance for the men's hockey tournament.