The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday it had banned for life three Russian bobsledders - Aleksandr Kasyanov, Aleksei Pushkarev and Ilvir Khuzin - over doping allegations related to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The IOC is re-testing all Russian athletes' samples from the event after Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Moscow's discredited anti-doping laboratory, blew the whistle on what he said was a state-sponsored doping programme. Russia denies the allegations, saying it is the victim of a politicised dirty tricks campaign designed to besmirch its reputation and curb its sporting success. The IOC's latest move brings the total number of Russian athletes handed life bans to more than 20 this month.

This file photo taken on February 23, 2014 shows (From L) Gold Medallists, Russia-1 four-man bobsleigh, pilot Alexander Zubkov, pushman Aleksei Negodaylo, pushman Dmitry Trunenkov and brakeman Alexey Voevoda celebrating at the Bobsleigh Four-man Medal Ceremony at the Sanki Sliding Center during the Sochi Winter Olympics. Two more Russian bobsleighers from the Russian-hosted 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Trunenkov and Negodaylo, have been stripped of their gold medals for doping, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on November 27, 2017. Pic/AFP