The national anti-doping agencies of 17 countries supported the removal of the Russian national team from participation in the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. This is reported by the Guardian with reference to a joint statement following the meeting of members of the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations.

"We have serious doubts that the Games of 2018 will be transparent because of incomplete investigation of mass evidence of individual doping by Russian athletes at the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014 and taking into account the inadequate results of testing Russian athletes over the past four years," in a statement.

The document also says members of NADO are not against the performance of Russians in Pyeongchang under a neutral flag only with thorough doping control.

"It's time for action.

Athletes want to see results, not empty chatter - this supports their decision to compete in a "clean" sport, "the statement said..

The International Olympic Committee now has two special commissions. The decision must be announced no later than November, when in all sports starts the winter season.

According to the report of the head of the independent WADA commission Richard McLaren, more than a thousand Russian athletes from 30 sports were convicted of manipulating the failed doping tests on the eve of Sochi-2014.

Source: LIGA.