Russia Will Not Appeal Olympic Ban On Being Called 'Russia'

Russia's name, flag and anthem will be barred from the next two Olympics, and apparently, Russia is just fine with all of that.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport made that decision about Russia last month after the World Anti-Doping Agency found that doping data had been manipulated. Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) confirmed Monday that it will not file an appeal to loosen the restrictions.

Russian athletes, however, will in fact still be allowed to sport the nation's colors of white, blue and red.

“RUSADA considers that this chapter has now been closed and is looking forward and committed to working with WADA with a view to fully restoring RUSADA’s membership status,” the Russian agency said in a statement.

Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin also supported the decision.

“We respect the decision of RUSADA,” Matytsin said in comments reported by the Tass state news agency. “From our side, we will do everything for Russian sport to be clean, fully implement educational programs, cooperate with the federations, the regions and the Russian Olympic Committee, as well as with international organizations in their areas of competence, in order to ensure the clean development of Russian sport and the inadmissibility of doping.”

Now, the only question remains is what we are to call Russia during international competition. The answer is probably still "Russia," but even a dope can figure out that won't be the official name.

The Tokyo Olympics, postponed last year, are scheduled to begin July 23.