335 sportspersons from Russia competing with athletes from around the world

There are 335 sportspersons from Russia competing with athletes from around the world, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Yet, unlike their counterparts, the Russians are not allowed to use their country’s name, flag and anthem, and are competing under the acronym ROC, meaning Russian Olympic Committee.

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This is because Russia, which has historically been among the world’s top sporting nations, has been ‘banned’ from the Tokyo Olympics.

In December 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia for four years from competing in international events, including the Tokyo Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

The ban was enacted after new revelations came up about a doping programme that Russia had been accused of.

The ban is not outright, and 335 athletes from Russia are still playing at Tokyo, only under the name ROC, meaning Russian Olympic Committee – the team that sends Russian athletes to all Games.

In effect, the ‘punishment’ only consists of forcing them to not use Russia’s name, flag or national anthem.

The ROC players are only those who have been able to prove that they were not part of the doping scam.