#Excessive mercy for cheatin’ Putin

Last year, the World Anti-Doping Agency justly punished Russia for cheating by banning it from international sports for four years. But Moscow appealed, and Thursday the Court of Arbitration for Sport halved that punishment to two years.

Too bad: WADA investigators had clear evidence that, as their report noted, “the Russian authorities brazenly and illegally manipulated the Moscow Laboratory data in an effort to cover up an institutionalized doping scheme.”

But Vladimir Putin (who surely oversaw the cheating) won’t get off scot-free: The ban still goes through Dec. 16, 2022, so Russia will miss the next two Olympics — in Tokyo next summer and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games — as well as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Switzerland-based sports court barred Russia’s flag from being displayed or the anthem sung in any venue, and prohibited Putin and other senior government officials from attending the sporting events.

Russian athletes can compete in the Games on the condition that they’re not subject to an individual suspension imposed by a “competent authority.” Their uniforms also can’t display the Russian Federation flag and must include the words “neutral athlete” or an equivalent.

While the punishment is not as harsh as we, or WADA, would’ve liked, at least actions still have consequences.