As 4 more Russians banned, Olympic leader Bach warns critics

GENEVA (AP) — As four more Russians were disqualified Friday for doping at the Sochi Olympics, IOC President Thomas Bach signaled a possible shift toward barring the country's athletes from the Pyeongchang Games.

Two-time bobsled gold medalist Alexander Zubkov, who carried the Russian flag at the opening ceremony in Sochi, was removed from the 2014 records in the latest round of verdicts from an International Olympic Committee panel prosecuting individuals caught in a program to cover up doping and tamper with tainted samples.

Now the president of the Russian bobsled federation, Zubkov was disqualified and banned for life from the Olympics along with speedskater Olga Fatkulina, who won silver in the 500 meters.