Report: Russia optimistic ban will be lifted before closing ceremony

The Russian Olympic Committee has renewed confidence that its ban will be lifted before the closing ceremony of PyeongChang 2018, according to Nick Butler of Inside The Games.

The hope reportedly stems from a recent meeting between International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and Igor Levitin, vice president of the ROC and one of Vladimir Putin's key aides.

Russia was banned from competing under its own flag in PyeongChang as the result of a widespread, state-run doping program. Clean athletes from Russia are permitted to compete as Olympic Athletes from Russia.

After reports that Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky had tested positive for meldonium, it was widely assumed he would be stripped of his bronze medal in mixed doubles curling and, more importantly, that Russia's reinstatement would be put off until after the Olympics.

Despite this, Inside The Games reports that Russia's meeting with the IOC may have resulted in the two sides coming to an agreement on a timeline for Russia's reinstatement that would allow its athletes to march under Russia's flag at the closing ceremony.