The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday banned Russia from competing at next year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The punitive measure, announced by the IOC's executive board, came on the heels of an investigation into allegations of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Games hosted by Russia in Sochi.

Athletes from Russia will be allowed to compete as individuals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February if they pass strict scrutiny.

They would compete under the Olympic flag, with their country's anthem being replaced by the Olympic anthem during ceremonies. Their uniform would bear the name "Olympic Athlete from Russia."

Russia's doping program represents "an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

"The IOC (executive board), after following due process, has issued proportional sanctions for this systemic manipulation while protecting the clean athletes," he said.

"This should draw a line under this damaging episode and serve as a catalyst for a more effective anti-doping system," Bach added.

The IOC also suspended Russian Olympic Committee President Alexander Zhukov as an IOC member, since his membership is linked to his position as chief of the ROC.

Additionally, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who served as the country's minister of sport in 2014, was banned from any future participation in the Olympic Games.

The IOC also banned Russian government officials from the games. It also imposed a fine of $15 million on the ROC to pay for investigations and future anti-doping efforts.

Japanese Olympic chief backs IOC's Russia ban

Japanese Olympic Committee chief Tsunekazu Takeda backed the International Olympic Committee's decision to ban Russia from competing at next year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang over state-sponsored doping.

"I think the IOC has made protecting the credibility and integrity of the Olympics its priority," Takeda said.

"It should be no surprise (that the IOC has taken this stance) to protect the value of the Olympics."

"The JOC will continue to cooperate with the IOC in order to make the Pyeongchang Olympics a success and for the sake of future Olympics."

The punitive measure, announced by the IOC's executive board, came on the heels of an investigation into allegations of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Games hosted by Russia in Sochi.

Athletes from Russia will be allowed to compete as individuals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February if they pass strict scrutiny.

They would compete under the Olympic flag, with their country's anthem being replaced by the Olympic anthem during ceremonies. Their uniform would bear the name "Olympic Athlete from Russia."

"It is certainly possible (that Russian figure skaters) will have the right to compete as individuals," said Hidehito Ito, chairman of the Japan Skating Federation's figure skating committee.

"(But as a country) Russia is Japan's biggest rival so in that sense it (the ban) is a real shame."

Jun Yuda, the JSF's speed skating head of development, said, "It's taken this long for the punitive measures to be taken for Sochi so who knows whether it will be possible to protect (Pyeongchang) and keep it completely clean."