BERLIN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- German Olympic Sports Federation President Alfons Hoermann has proposed a ban on Russian athletes from the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games.
Hoermann suggested on Sunday that Russia should be banned if ongoing investigations finally prove a state-sponsored doping scheme with the involvement of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
The ban on Russia in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2020 summer games in Tokyo would provide a "clear signal" of zero tolerance for doping, he noted.
"If someone breaches the International Olympic Committee (IOC) charter in such a clear way, then they must face the harshest form of punishment," Hoermann said as quoted by Die Welt newspaper.
Hoermann's remarks came as German broadcaster ARD earlier on Sunday sent out a documentary claiming that Russian coaches continued breaking international doping rules and ignored the ban on their involvement in any sports event.
Meetings between Russian officials and experts at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) were expected to be held in Moscow from Jan. 23 to 24 on possible reinstatement of Russian track and field athletes.
The IAAF in July 2016 prohibited all Russian athletes from taking part in international competitions, including the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil, over doping allegations, except long jump athlete Darya Klishina.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on July 18, 2016 issued a statement recommending IOC to suspend the whole Russian team from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games due to an independent investigation conclusion that accused Russia of running a "state-dictated failsafe system" of drug cheating in 30 sports at the 2014 Sochi Games and other major events.
The IOC ruled last August against a blanket ban over Russia from the Rio Olympics, while Russia has been vigorously denying the WADA charges.
