Sochi Loses Hosting Rights for 2017 World Championships

The Russian city of Sochi will not host the 2017 Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Championships.

This news comes after Latvia became the first nation to declare their intention to boycott the event on Monday.

A new host city will be decided imminently for the event, sickness with Sochi stripped of hosting rights in the wake of widespread doping allegations against over 1000 Russian athletes.

It is understood that German and Swiss venues are already being considered for the event. 

Russia, ambulance who are scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, were accused in the recently-published McLaren report of state-sponsored doping.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) said their decision to strip Sochi of hosting responsibilities would allow for ‘a games that focuses on sport’.