The disgraced Russian politician banned from all Olympics will still organise the 2018 FIFA World Cup

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December 6, 2017 2:18 PM

Vitaly Mutko must bear the responsibility for doping acts committed during his tenure as Russia sports minister.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko has been banned from future Olympic Games.
But remains in position to organise the FIFA World Cup next summer.
Mutko was minister of sport during a period that saw more than a thousand Russian athletes implicated in a massive doping scandal.
A new report says Mutko bears responsibility for doping during that time.
But FIFA says the sanctions Mutko faces from the International Olympic Committee has no impact on its own tournament.

Disgraced Russian politician Vitaly Mutko has been banned from participating in the administration of future Olympic games — but will still organise next year's Football World Cup.

Mutko, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, served as minister of sport from 2008 to 2016, and has been accused in a recent report of helping orchestrate the mass doping of Russian athletes.

He "had the ultimate administrative responsibility" for doping acts committed at during his tenure, according to a 17-month investigation led by the former president of Switzerland, Samuel Schmid.

During Mutko's tenure, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) says Russia was involved in institutional doping.

Between 2011 and 2015, more than 1,000 Russian athletes across a range of sports benefited from a cover-up, according to a World Anti-Doping Agency report.

This report led to calls for Russia to be banned from the 2016 Summer Olympics. The IOC rejected this, yet has now banned Mutko from participating in all future Olympic Games.

Despite Mutko's fall from grace, his position still gives him influence in the running of the 2018 FIFA World Cup — the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world.

BBC sports news correspondent Richard Conway noted the potential discrepancy on Twitter.

He said: "Mutko is banned from watching Russia compete at football in any future Olympics but he is eligible, according to FIFA, of organising the World Cup next year." [sic]

So there we have it.. Vital... @ Richard Conway, BBC

A FIFA statement said that Mutko's sanctions had "no impact" on the preparations for next year's flagship football tournament.

It said: "When it comes to potential disciplinary or ethical matters concerning specific individuals, it will be up to the respective FIFA bodies to evaluate them.

"Any information on specific disciplinary or ethical matters will be communicated accordingly upon the respective committee’s indications."

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