GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) — Russia's imminent return from a doping suspension won't be derailed because its hockey players sang their national anthem, the International Olympic Committee said Monday.
The Russian men's team defied IOC rules by belting out the anthem at their medal ceremony following Sunday's 4-3 overtime win against Germany in the gold-medal game. Russian fans at the match also sang along.
"We understand that this was over excitement by the athletes who had just won a gold medal in extraordinary circumstances," the IOC said in an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press.
Players on the Russian team said they agreed before the game that they would sing the anthem.