London — The International Olympic Committee’s handling of Russia’s systemic doping program has been plunged into disarray after sport’s top court overturned bans issued to 28 Russian athletes just days before the start of the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Thursday that there was insufficient evidence that the athletes — including some medal winners — breached antidoping regulations at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. The reversal means athletes deemed to have been part of an elaborate cheating scheme may yet compete in the Olympics, and is yet another blow to the credibility of the I.