Russia was suspended from track and field competition by the sport’s international governing body Friday, four days after an independent World Anti-Doping Agency report recommended a suspension due to the nation’s poor anti-doping record.
It’s the first time the IAAF has banned a country over doping, according to The Associated Press, which reported the IAAF council banned the nation by a 22-1 vote.
The next notable international track and field event is the World Indoor Championships, March 17-20 in Portland, Ore. The Olympics are Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro.
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said Thursday the nation would not boycott the Olympics if its track and field team was banned from the Games, according to The Associated Press.