“Russia Is Banned From 2018 Olympics”

Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the Russian Olympic Committee "with immediate effect," essentially banning the country from the upcoming Winter Olympics over Russia's system of state-supported cheating by athletes using performance-enhancing drugs. Russian athletes can compete in the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the IOC said Tuesday — but the athletes will have to pass strict scrutiny, and instead of wearing their nation's uniform, they will compete under the title "Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR).” "They will compete with a uniform bearing this name and under the Olympic Flag," the IOC said. IOC President Thomas Bach pronounced Russia's fate at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. While the Schmid report criticizes Russia's minister of sport and describes "a widespread culture of doping in Russia," it also states that it didn't find any solid evidence "confirming the support of the knowledge of this system by the highest State authority" — seemingly a reference to President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Olympic Committee must also pay a total of $15 million to pay for the IOC's doping investigation.

In Other News Burning with extreme speed and ferocity, a flurry of wildfires torched more than 65,000 acres in Southern California, as firefighters struggled to contain the simultaneous infernos. Powerful Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions fueled at least five wildfires Tuesday, marking what has been a devastating year for fires in California. The latest fires forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, burned down more than a hundred buildings and triggered power outages in the region. On Tuesday evening, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick received Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award during SI's Sportsperson of the Year Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. A special guest presented him with the honor.  Music icon Beyonce introduced the 30-year-old, who last played during Week 17 of the 2016 NFL season. "I accept this award knowing that the legacy of Muhammad Ali is that of a champion of the people, and one who was affectionately known as the 'People's Champ,'" Kaepernick said on stage.