IOC bans four more Russians over doping

As four more Russians were disqualified Friday for doping at the Sochi Olympics, IOC President Thomas Bach signaled a possible shift toward barring the country’s athletes from the upcoming Pyeongchang Games.

Two-time bobsled gold medalist Alexander Zubkov, who carried the Russian flag at the opening ceremony in Sochi, was removed from the 2014 records in the latest round of verdicts.

Zubkov, now president of the Russian bobsled federation, was disqualified and banned for life from the Olympics, as was speedskater Olga Fatkulina, who won silver in the 500 meters. Two other non-medalists also were banned.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Zubkov told The AP, saying he plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and has no intention of stepping down.

“Sport has turned into politics.” Russia originally topped the medals table in Sochi, but the latest cases drop it to nine gold medals, fewer than Norway and Canada. In total medals, Russia now has 24, behind the United States, Norway and Canada.

A total of 14 Russians have now been disqualified this month, with nine medals lost.

Bach will chair an IOC board meeting on Dec. 5 that could ban Russia’s team from the Pyeongchang Games, which begin Feb. 9.

In a speech Friday, Bach cautioned against those “from whichever side” who seek to influence the IOC’s decision on a possible Pyeongchang ban of Russia.

“Some may try to build pressure. They will be wrong,” the IOC leader told European Olympic officials in Zagreb, Croatia.