The New York Times
Top officials for the International Olympic Committee are considering a menu of possible penalties against Russia for doping violations, including barring the country's national anthem at the coming Winter Olympics and keeping its delegation of athletes out of the opening ceremony, according to several people with knowledge of the deliberations, according to The New York Times (NYT).
With less than 100 days to go before the Games begin in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Olympic officials are under intense pressure to announce their decision on how Russia will be punished for corrupting several Olympics – most notably the 2014 Sochi Games – with an elaborate, state-supported doping scheme, NYT wrote.
It is unclear which, if any, option the I.O.C. leadership favors at this point. It is possible that any punishment will be far less severe.
Read alsoWinter Olympics 2018: Anti-doping organizations demand Russia ban – BBC
The I.O.C. is unlikely to impose a total ban on Russia, an Olympic heavyweight, though it could issue a significant financial penalty, expel athletes and officials found to have been part of the doping scheme and remove any mention of Russia from the field of play, according to the people.
Russian officials have threatened to pull their athletes out of the Pyeongchang Games altogether if the sanctions are too harsh.
A decision is expected to be made on Dec. 5, when the I.O.C.'s executive board meets.