On 9 December 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia from all international sport for four years, after it had been found that data provided by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency had been manipulated by Russian authorities with a goal of protecting athletes involved in its state-sponsored doping scheme.[1] Russia later filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the WADA decision.[2] The Court of Arbitration for Sport, on review of Russia's appeal of its case from WADA, ruled on 17 December 2020 to reduce the penalty that WADA had placed. Instead of banning Russia from sporting events, the ruling allowed Russia to participate at the Olympics and other international events, but for a period of two years, the team cannot use the Russian name, flag, or anthem and must present themselves as "Neutral Athlete" or "Neutral Team". The ruling does allow for team uniforms to display "Russia" on the uniform as well as the use of the Russian flag colors within the uniform's design, although the name should be up to equal predominance as the "Neutral Athlete/Team" designation.[3] Russia could appeal the decision.[3]
On 19 February 2021, it was announced that Russia would compete under the acronym "ROC", after the name of the Russian Olympic Committee. On aftermatch, the IOC announced that the Russian national flag would be substituted by the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee. It would also be allowed to use team uniforms bearing the words "Russian Olympic Committee", or the acronym "ROC" would be added.[4]
On 15 April 2021, the uniforms for the Russian Olympic Committee athletes were unveiled, featuring the colours of the Russian flag.[5][6] On 22 April 2021, the replacement for Russia's anthem was approved by the IOC, after an earlier choice of the patriotic Russian song "Katyusha" was rejected. A fragment of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 is used.[7][8]
Triple gold medalist and eight-time medalist Alexander Bolshunov was the closing ceremony flagbearer.[9]
On 19 February, Russian athletes officially set a new record for the total number of medals won, having earned at least 32 and improving on Russia's previous best result in Sochi (30 medals) and USSR's result in Calgary (29 medals). However, in the gold medal count the team finished only ninth with five gold medals.[a][10]
Competitors
The following is the list of number of competitors participating at the Games per sport/discipline.
Russian Biathlon Union announced the 5 men and 5 women participating on 17 January 2022. On 30 January 2022 Valeriia Vasnetsova, who was already in Beijing, was replaced with Evgeniya Burtasova due to positive COVID-19 tests.[13]
Russia qualified the maximum of eight male and eight female cross-country skiers.[14]
Russian Cross-Country Ski Federation announced the 8 men and 8 women participating on 11 January 2022.
Based on results of the 2021 World Curling Championships and Olympic Qualification Event, Russian Olympic Committee has qualified for men's and women's tournaments. Russian Curling Federation announced the five men and five women participating on 4 January 2022.
^ abcdefOn 29 January 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) disqualified Kamila Valieva for four years retroactive to 25 December 2021 for an anti-doping rule violation. On 30 January 2024, the ISU reallocated medals, upgrading the United States to gold and Japan to silver while downgrading the ROC to bronze. As such, Russia's totals changed from six gold medals and 14 bronze medals to five gold medals and 15 bronze medals.
A 23-player roster was announced on 24 January 2022.[26] The roster submitted in the ROC's preliminary application on 2 February featured only nineteen players. Due to positive COVID-19 test results, previously named goaltender Diana Farkhutdinova, defencemen Angelina Goncharenko and Yekaterina Nikolayeva, and forwards Liudmila Belyakova and captain Olga Sosina were removed and reserve forward Polina Luchnikova was added to the roster. Goaltender Valeria Merkusheva and defenceman Maria Batalova were expected join the team in Beijing on 3 February.[27] On 3 February, defenceman Yulia Smirnova and forward Landysh Falyakhova were registered and, on 5 February, Maria Batalova was registered and both Angelina Goncharenko and Olga Sosina returned to the official roster.[28]
Based on their rankings in the 2021–22 Luge World Cup, Russian Olympic Committee qualified ten athletes and a relay team. The team consists of three athletes each in the individual events and two doubles sleds. Russian Luge Federation announced the 7 men and 3 women participating on 10 January 2022.
Russian athletes have qualified in all three relays, qualifying four men and five women, then claimed one additional male quote during reallocation. Russian Skating Union announced the 4 men and 5 women participating on 12 December 2021 and then announced fifth man on 17 January 2022.
Qualification legend: ADV – Advanced due to being impeded by another skater; FA – Qualify to medal round; FB – Qualify to consolation round; AA – Advance to medal round due to being impeded by another skater
Russian Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Federation announced 4 men and 4 women participating on 17 January 2022. Fifth man was announced on 25 January 2012.
Russian Olympic Committee earned the following quotas at the conclusion of the four World Cup's used for qualification — 8 men and 8 women, including both teams in the men's and women's team pursuit events. Russian Skating Union announced the participants on 17 January 2022.