The International Olympic Committee has suspended Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics, though neutral athletes will be permitted.

Russia has been banned from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics but athletes can compete under a neutral flag, the IOC announced on Tuesday.

The decision was made after the IOC Executive Board studied the findings detailed in the report of a commission led by Samuel Schmid, the former president of Switzerland, addressing the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia.

The European nation hosted the previous edition of the Games in Sochi but will have no representatives in Pyeongchang next year, though competitors will be able to take part under the Olympic flag should they meet “strict conditions”.

According to an IOC release, the Schmid Commission recommended to the Executive Board “to take the appropriate measures that should be strong enough to effectively sanction the existence of a systemic manipulation of the anti-doping rules and system in Russia, as well as the legal responsibility of the various entities involved (i.e., including uniform, flag and anthem)”.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: “This was an unprecedent attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and the sport.

“The IOC Executive Board, after following due process, has issued proportional sanctions for this systemic manipulation while protecting the clean athletes.

“I am feeling very sorry for all the clean athletes from all NOCs who suffered from this manipulation.”

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) was suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in November 2015 following accusations of state-sponsored doping.