Sport's highest court on Thursday banned Russia from international sports competitions for two years including the rearranged Tokyo Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling halved a four-year ban for systematic doping imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

"This Panel has imposed consequences to reflect the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance...and to ensure that the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping is maintained," said CAS in its judgment. Under the landmark decision, which also excludes the country from the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Russians will still be allowed to compete, but only as neutrals.