Registered: Apr 2016
Location: River Falls, WI, USA
Posts: 445

I read a story in a newspaper today about how the World Anti Doping Authority has refused to reinstate the Russian state anti-doping agency over the cheating they've been doing over the last few Olympic cycles. It said that there's a meeting on this coming up in a few weeks, at which time they could either ban Russia outright from the 2018 Winter Olympics or let each sport's governing body ban Russia from their particular sport. At the same time, Russia is threatening a general boycott if the latter option happens to even one of their teams. And I also read another story yesterday about suspicious test results for the lead of Anna Sidorova's team in Sochi in 2014 (who's not with them now).

My question is, assume for a moment that Russia is either forced out or walks out of the 2018 Olympics. What would Curling do? Just proceed with one less team, or would they let another country send a team and take their place? (Presumably this would be the country that was last to miss the bar at the upcoming Qualification Event in December?)

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Registered: Jun 2015
Location:
Posts: 18

I think they would add a team either the way you mentioned, sending a 3rd place team, or by sending the team that has accumulated the most amount of points in world results(because that's how the Russian team got in).

When the decision about Russia is made is a crucial factor. If they are banned before the last chance qualifier. The WCF could rearrange the draw schedule to allow 3 teams in, but if it doesn't happen till after the event.... It may be hard to send a 3rd team depending on how the draw is configured.

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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Twin Snowbanks
Posts: 2068

Well - China has not yet qualified for the Olympics and I think is favoured to get a spot out of the last chance event, Dec 5-10 in Czech Republic. Host country also has good teams. Danes can never be counted out. I hope Russian women get to compete. Here are the teams heading to the #LastChance Olympic qualifier in a few weeks.
Women's Teams
China. Czech Republic. Denmark. Finland. Germany. Italy. Latvia

Men's Teams
China. Czech Republic. Denmark. Finland. Germany. Italy. Netherlands. Russia

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Lots of major youth (<21) events. Nice for Murdoch... and us :-D.

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