Russia's four-year Olympic ban for manipulating doping data is heading to sport's highest court.
The World Anti-Doping Agency says it has formally referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Russia confirmed last month it will appeal the sanction.
WADA imposed a package of sanctions including banning Russia's name and flag from the Olympics and world championship events in various sports over four years. There are also restrictions on Russia hosting some major events.
President of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Craig Reedie anwers questions from journalists after a press conference after the WADA's extraordinary Executive Committee (ExCo) on the Russian doping data manipulation, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. WADA bans Russia from international sporting events for four years. (Laurent GillieronKeystone via AP)
The next stage is for WADA and Russia to each select one of the three CAS arbitrators to hear the case. Those two then select a third judge to lead the panel.
Next year's Olympics in Tokyo will be the third consecutive edition of the games preceded by a legal battle over Russian doping issues.
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