Russia’s track and field team has been barred from competing in this summer’s Rio Games because of a far-reaching doping conspiracy, an extraordinary punishment

Russia’s track and field team has been barred from competing in this summer’s Rio Games because of a far-reaching doping conspiracy, an extraordinary punishment that might be without precedent in Olympics history off topic, but wow what a great opening to this article. It actually gets to the point in first sentence, and second sentence (not quoted here) states most important implications and how this news came to be. Reader has the option to keep reading to get more background. This is so crisp and refreshing compared to other articles that feel the need to start with some opening warm up that will get you to the point 1/3 of the way in.