- Russia was banned from international sporting events until 2022 for doping.
- Athletes now compete under the Russian Olympic Committee name.
TOKYO – With the Russian name being banned from this year’s Olympics due to the mass doping scandal from years ago, athletes will be competing under the name of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Other athletes from Russia have attempted to acquire dual citizenship to compete under a different countries name.
How Russia Got Banned
In 2015 it was reported that evidence was found that tied Russia with institutionalized doping as well as tampering with lab reports. The ban meant that Russia would be unable to use its name, flag and national anthem for international events including the Olympics.
For those interested in betting on the Olympics, this is why “ROC” will be listed next to the names of the athletes.
The Impact Of The Ban
Truthfully, there isn’t much impact on the country itself other than potentially on the country’s ego. Everybody still knows the athletes are Russian, Russia is still in the name of the committee, and they are still allowed to use the colors of the Russian flag.
However, there are some athletes who are attempting to go about things in a different way.
Some athletes have looked into acquiring dual citizenship for the ability to compete under a different country with Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan allegedly among the most active recruiting countries. Further, Matvey Volkov, a junior world record-holding pole vaulter left for Belarus to eventually compete for them as he didn’t like the direction Russia was heading.
On Tuesday, the Russian Olympic Committee published its final list of 335 athletes bound for Tokyo. The group is not competing under the banner of “Russia,” but as “ROC” — the Russian Olympic Committee — and even that full name can’t be displayed. https://t.co/5MCE7rDhCy
— Post Sports (@PostSports) July 6, 2021
Russian Olympic Committee In The 2021 Olympics
There is an expected 335 athletes that will be competing under the Russian Olympic Committee name in the 2021 Olympics. Many of which are projected to do fairly well.
As a whole, the Russian Olympic Committee has the third-shortest odds to lead the overall medal count behind only the United States and China.
Some of the most notable athletes that have legal Olympic betting odds for the ROC are Romanshina and Kolesnichenko who are overwhelming -1000 favorites to win the artistic swimming duet. Inna Deriglazova - a +110 favorite to win the women’s foil fencing event - and Sofya Velikaya, who has the second-shortest odds to win the women’s sabre fencing event.