• Wada looking into allegations relating to Rusada chief

• IOC recommends lifting of ban on Belarusians competing

Russia’s return to international sport has been delayed following allegations that its head of anti-doping was involved in covering up drug test results at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

While the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday that athletes from Belarus should now be free to compete under their own flag and anthem, it admitted it still had “concern” over Russia.

Some Russians have dismissed the Games over the continued exclusion of their athletes. But the truth is international sport is still important to Moscow

Duma member Vitaly Milonov didn’t mince words when asked four years ago about the international ban against Russian athletes.

“There’s no point in humiliating ourselves and begging to be let in,” said the St Petersburg deputy, a member of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party. “We have our pride.” International events had been corrupted by the United States, he claimed in a 2022 interview, just weeks after the International Olympic Committee and other governing bodies imposed the ban. “Only Russia can say no. Other countries will accept whatever nonsense the Americans force on them – teams of vegans, queers and lesbians.”