A group of 47 Russian athletes has lost a last-minute appeal to their suspensions for doping just as the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea have begun.

Russian Olympic athletes doping ban news

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the Russians’ plea to overturn a decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to allow them to compete over doping concerns.

One of the athletes banned from competing in Pyeongchang is Viktor Ahn, a highly-decorated speed skater who was born in South Korea and competed for the nation before becoming a naturalized Russian citizen.

Nevertheless, 169 Russians will compete as independents.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said the CAS’s decision was understandable but disappointing.

“It is difficult for CAS to take a decision in the light of previous pressure. If they had allowed [the invitations] it would have been a shock,” said Mutko, a former sports minister who has himself been banned from the Olympics for life.

The group contesting the decision included 28 athletes who had life bans from the Olympics lifted by the IOC last week, when CAS ruled there was insufficient evidence they had gained unfair advantage from a Russian government-sponsored doping program.

The Pyeongchang Olympics run from Feb. 9 to 25 in South Korea.

The 169 sportspeople who have been invited to attend will compete under the Olympic flag rather than a Russian flag. Should they win any medals, the Olympic anthem will be played.

Russia’s systemic state-sponsored doping program was thoroughly investigated, and the findings revealed that the illicit practices — which included tampering with athletes’ urine samples — dated back to the 2014 Winter Olympics, which were held in Sochi, Russia.

Craig Reedie, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said the “timing of these decisions just before the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang is good as it will reassure athletes and others that only Russian athletes (who) have met strict anti-doping guidelines will be participating in the Games.”

SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 23: Gold medalist Alexander Legkov of Russia celebrates in the medal ceremony for the Men’s 50 km Mass Start Free during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Maria Sharapova was denied a wild-card entry into this year’s French Open due to her doping ban on Tuesday, the same day the Russian star retired from the Italian Open with a thigh injury.

Maria Sharapova denied entry into French Open

Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation, announced the decision via Facebook Live after telling Sharapova in person.

“I decided not to give Maria Sharapova a wild card. I’m very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans. They might be disappointed, she might be very disappointed,” Giudicelli said. “But it’s my responsibility, it’s my mission to protect the game and protect the high standards of the game.”

Sharapova, 30, returned to competitive tennis in April following a 15-month suspension for a doping violation. She received wild-card entries into the main draw of regular tournaments in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as Madrid and Rome.

The Russian is a two-time French Open singles champion: she won Roland Garros in 2012 and 2014. This year’s tournament begins on May 28 in Paris.

“She has handled her suspension with dignity and respect,” added Giudicelli. “But nonetheless, though there can be a wild card after an injury, there cannot be one for a return from doping. So it is up to Maria day after day, tournament after tournament, to find alone the strength she needs to win the big titles without owing anything to anyone.”

Sharapova, who boasts titles at all four majors, was criticized by several other tennis stars, including Angelique Kerber, Andy Murray and Genie Bouchard, the last of whom said Sharapova had cheated by doping and also slammed the International Tennis Federation for allowing the Russian to compete again.

Others, however, seem to support Sharapova and believe disqualifying her from entry into any of these tournaments is excessive.

“I believe every tournament should give her a main draw wild card, and I think the safest play is to give her a wild card into the qualies,” Justin Gimelstob, a Tennis Channel analyst and member of the ATP board of directors, said on Monday. “I’m very concerned this new president is going to try to make a statement and shut her out of the tournament. If he does that, it’s a huge travesty and a mistake.”

Novak Djokovic, a longtime friend of Sharapova’s, said there is not much anyone can do about the French Tennis Federation’s decision.

“Whoever, you know, runs the French Open is in charge of the French Open, and they can make a decision that they think is the most appropriate,” said the top-ranked Serb. “Must be tough for her, but it’s the way it is. In some tournaments she’s going to get that help in wild card and invitation. Some not. Unfortunately, it’s a Grand Slam, which is for sure for her a big one. But it is what it is.”

The ITF initially suspended Sharapova from tennis in June 2016 for two years after she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at last year’s Australian Open. In October, her suspension was reduced to 15 months starting from the date of the failed test (January 26, 2016).

Sharapova defeated American Christina McHale in the first round of the Italian Open on Monday and has now secured a spot in Wimbledon, a tournament the Russian won in 2004.

On Tuesday, however, Sharapova withdrew from her second-round match in Rome against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni with a thigh injury after leading 4-6, 6-3, 2-1.

The Russian stepped off the court for an injury timeout during the second game of the third set and returned with her left thigh taped. She officially retired approximately 2.5 hours after Giudicelli announced her suspension.

Sharapova did not hold a press conference following Tuesday’s match and issued a statement that addressed her injury but not her ban from the French Open.

“I apologize for having to withdraw from my match today with a left thigh injury,” she said. “I will be getting all the necessary examinations to make sure it is not serious. I want to thank the tournament for giving me the opportunity to play this special event again.”

Roger Federer, meanwhile, announced Monday that he will bypass the French Open, a clay-court tournament, in order to focus on grass-court play.

Caption:MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 22: Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a backhand in her third round match against Lauren Davis of the United States during day five of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Eugenie Bouchard has criticized both the World Tennis Association and Maria Sharapova after the Russian tennis star, who has been serving a 15-month doping suspension, was permitted to return to play on Wednesday.

Genie Bouchard Slams WTA, Maria Sharapova After Return

Sharapova, who turned 30 on April 19, defeated Italian Roberta Vinci at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday. The Russian had originally been banned from tennis for two years after testing positive for meldonium, a drug prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in January 2016, at the Australian Open that year.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced Sharapova’s suspension to 15 months, stating she was not an “intentional doper” but “bore some degree of fault” for trusting her agent with regards to the list of banned drugs, which the agent evidently had an erroneous version of.

Bouchard lambasted the WTA, saying it had set a terrible example to young, aspiring athletes, and called Sharapova a “cheater” who should be banned from tennis for life.

“She’s a cheater and … I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” said the 23-year-old Canadian. “It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true. I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids: ‘cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms’.”

The 2014 Wimbledon finalist continued: “I don’t think that’s right and (Sharapova is) definitely not someone I can say I look up to any more.”

Bouchard last fell to Slovakia’s Jana Čepelová 6-0, 6-4 at the Istanbul Open on Tuesday.

Sharapova also beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-1 in the second round at Stuttgart early Thursday, and next faces Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in the quarterfinals Friday morning.

The Russian star will find out in May whether she will be given a wild card for the French Open.

Caption: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 20: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada plays a forehand in her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)