Russia has been banned from the 2020 Olympics and 2022 football World Cup – but there has been fierce criticism the punishment does not go far enough.
The World Anti-Doping Agency on Monday confirmed a four-year ban from all major global sporting events, after considering recommendations from its independent compliance review committee (CRC) that Russia had manipulated laboratory doping data. Russia is also banned from hosting or bidding to host major events.
WADA said the decision was unanimous and its president Sir Craig Reedie accused Russia of choosing "deception and denial" over getting its house in order.
But WADA vice president Linda Hofstad Helleland and US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart both claimed Russia had got off lightly by avoiding a blanket ban.
Individual Russian athletes who can prove they are untainted by the scandal will be able to compete as neutrals.
"For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport," he said. "The blatant breach by the Russian authorities of RUSADA's (the Russian Anti-Doping Agency's) reinstatement conditions, approved by the ExCo (executive committee) in September 2018, demanded a robust response.
"That is exactly what has been delivered today. Russia was afforded every opportunity to get its house in order and rejoin the global anti-doping community for the good of its athletes and of the integrity of sport, but it chose instead to continue in its stance of deception and denial.
"As a result, the WADA ExCo has responded in the strongest possible terms, while protecting the rights of Russian athletes that can prove that they were not involved and did not benefit from these fraudulent acts."
UK Anti-Doping welcomed the ban on Russia in a statement by saying it was the "only possible outcome".
UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead praised WADA's "decisive action".
She added: "We know however that this is not necessarily the end of the matter. If RUSADA choose to appeal (against) this decision to CAS, this must be carried out with minimal delay, especially in light of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo."
