Four Russian athletes are disqualified by the IOC for breaking anti-doping rules

Alexander Tretiakov competed in the bobsleigh and skeleton World Championships in Germany in February

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has disqualified four Russian skeleton athletes for violating anti-doping rules.

Sochi gold medallist Alexander Tretiakov and bronze medallist Elena Nikitina are among those banned from any future Olympic competition.

They had been suspended, along with team-mates Maria Orlova and Olga Potylitsyna, following allegations of "a state-sponsored doping programme".

That suspension was lifted in January.

At the time the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation said there was insufficient evidence but said it would continue to investigate.

Following the release of the McLaren report, all samples collected from Russian athletes at the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 that were available to the IOC were re-analysed.

Russian Sochi Olympians banned

As of 24 November, 2017

Gold

Alexander Legkov, 50km cross country; Aleksandr Tretiakov, skeleton; Aleksandr Zubkov, 2-man and 4-man bobsleigh

Silver

Maksim Vylegzhanin, 50km cross country; Men's 4x10km cross country; Men's team sprint classic cross country; Olga Fatkulina, 500m speed skating

Bronze

Elena Nikitina, women's skeleton

Others

Evgeniy Belov, cross country skier; Yuliia Ivanova, cross country skier; Alexey Petukhov, cross country skier; Evgeniya Shapovalova, cross country skier; Maria Orlova, skeleton; Olga Potylitsyna, skeleton; Olga Stulneva, bobsleigh; Alexander Rumyantsev, speed skater