Russia鈥檚 ban from the Olympic movement was lifted on Wednesday despite two failed doping tests by its athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The decision by the International Olympic Committee appears to be an attempt to draw a line under the state-concocted doping scandal that tarnished the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

The IOC allowed more than 160 athletes it determined were clean to compete in Sochi as 鈥淥lympic Athletes from Russia鈥� in Pyeongchang earlier this month with a prohibition on the national anthem or flag in venues.

Russia鈥檚 hopes of marching under its flag at Sunday鈥檚 closing ceremony in South Korea were stymied by the two positive tests for banned substances, including a curler who had to forfeit his bronze medal. But the IOC said Wednesday that all remaining test results were negative, clearing the path for Russia鈥檚 return to the Olympic fold.

鈥淭herefore, as stated in the executive board decision of 25th February, the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee is automatically lifted with immediate effect,鈥� the IOC said in a statement.

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Russian athletes won two gold medals in Pyeongchang, in figure skating and ice hockey, along with six silver medals and nine bronze.

鈥淚 would like to thank our athletes who were able to perform well even despite the provocations,鈥� Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov said in quotes carried by the TASS news agency. 鈥淚 thank the fans who did not cross the line and what could result in sanctions. Today鈥檚 IOC鈥檚 decision is very important for us. The ROC is an absolutely full-fledged member of the Olympic family.鈥�

Russia also complied with its financial sanctions last week by paying $15 million to pay for the IOC鈥檚 two investigations into the scheme and toward future anti-doping work.

Vitaly Smirnov, the head of an anti-doping commission set up by Russian President Vladimir Putin, did acknowledge on Wednesday that 鈥渨e have a long way to go to get rid of the mistakes, which we made in the past.鈥�

But Russia continues to deny there was state involvement in the plot, which included urine samples in supposedly tamper-proof bottles at the 2014 Olympics being swapped out for clean samples through a 鈥渕ouse hole鈥� in the wall at a laboratory in Sochi.

The IOC decision to reinstate Russia has no bearing on the International Paralympic Committee鈥檚 earlier ruling to maintain the country鈥檚 ban. The only Russians at the March 8-18 Pyeongchang Games will be known as 鈥淣eutral Paralympic Athletes,鈥� mirroring the IOC鈥檚 compromise.

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Rob Harris, The Associated Press

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