The International Olympic Committee on Sunday upheld the ban of Russia from the Pyeongchang Winter Games because of doping, denying the 168 athletes competing here as "Olympic Athletes from Russia" the right to march in the closing ceremony under their country's flag. Just hours before #PyeongChang2018 closing ceremony, the IOC unanimously votes to accept Executive Board decision - no reinstatement for Russian Olympic Committee; no Russian kit, no Russian flag flying as Olympics close out. "The IOC executive board decided first not to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee for the closing ceremony," Bach said, "therefore, no delegation of the Russian Olympic Committee will have taken part in these Olympic Winter Games." IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz from Aruba and head of the Russia implementation group said the Russian delegation met many of the criteria required for reinstatement during the Olympics. The Russia committee met for hours Saturday and presented their findings Sunday morning to the full membership.

Source: CBC News February 25, 2018 01:50 UTC