The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has imposed a four-year ban on Russia from all global sport, including the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup finals.
WADA’s executive committee took the decision after concluding Moscow had tampered with laboratory data.
The agency found Russia planted fake evidence and deleted files linked to positive doping tests that could have helped identify drug cheats.
Russia has 21 days to appeal the decision through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Individual Russian athletes untainted by the scandal will still be able to compete in competitions independently under a neutral flag.
It is unclear whether those who play team sports such as football will be able to play under a neutral flag.
Russia has been hit with the ban after agreeing to allow WADA investigators into its laboratory in Moscow.
The investigators found that data there had been manipulated.
Russia will still be able to compete at the Euro 2020 football tournament next summer, which it has qualified for and is a tournament host with games due to be played at St Petersburg.
European football’s governing body does not fall under the definition of a “major events organisation” under the international compliance code.
Russia has been banned from competing as a nation in athletics since 2015 when it was first declared non-compliant.
