[PyeongChang 2018] Sports court lifts life bans of 28 Russians accused of doping

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, sport's top court ruled there was "insufficient" evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia.

This file photo taken on December 12, 2017 shows a man talking on the phone in front of the headquarters of the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow. A sports court in Lausanne on February 1, 2018 lifted life suspensions of 28 Russians athletes accused of doping. (AFP-Yonhap)

CAS said in its judgement: "In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) was committed by the athletes concerned."

The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing at Pyeongchang as a team over the doping scandal, although 169 Russian competitors have been cleared to take part as neutrals. (AFP)