The Olympic Games will never recover from the stigma if IOC president Thomas Bach doesn’t support banning Russia from Rio.
An independent investigation proved endemic drug cheating, supported by Russia’s Sports Ministry, forced the track and field’s governing body the IAAF to ban Russia from Rio and all international competition as of last year.
Another independent investigation has since found endemic drug cheating across 28 sports in Russia with WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, calling for Russia’s total ban from Rio.
But Bach is hedging his bets.
He’s loathe to take the only honest step because Russia is a leading Olympic Games country.
Who cares? Russia has been proved to be a nation that doesn’t abide by the rules when it comes to drug cheating, and must pay the penalty.
Typically, President Putin has described the independent findings as “purely political”, and dismissed the drug cheat proof out of hand.
Why are we not surprised?
The Kremlin has chimed in along much the same lines, describing the findings as “political interference creating a dangerous precedent”.
The only reason why Putin and the Kremlin are making a mockery of the situation is because they have been found out, and neither can cop the guilt.
Stuff ’em both, the quicker the Russians are banned the better.
And if FIFA has any balls, they should take the 2018 World Cup off Russia as well.
Then see how the Russians react.
But the only way for the Sports Ministry and the various sports to get the message is to deny Russia any chance of competing in the two biggest sporting events every four years.
There’s absolutely no doubt Putin uses sport internationally as a yardstick of Russia’s power. He compares conquering sporting fields to conquering countries he wants to take over.
And does.
Take the sporting field component out of Putin’s ambitions, and he will be forced to change his attitude, and that can only be for the betterment of the world in general.
So Thomas Bach’s future is now in his own hands.
Ban Russia from Rio and be compared with Jacques Rogge as an outstanding IOC president.
Or let Russia off the hook, and be compared to Juan Antonio Samaranch as one of the worst presidents in Olympic history.
Bakkies
Guest
David now I've seen you post an article we are still waiting for your thoughts on the Tarts not making the Super Rugby Finals. As for the article topic banning a country outright is probably too risky politically and it would blacklist athletes who are abiding by the rules in the IOC's eyes. As far as I can recall China and East Germany were never banned outright from all events due to drugs.
michaelj
Guest
what about China? It has A suspect program. then there's Kenya. why is Russia the only demon?
Timbo
Guest
I think we can safely say there were no Australian 'athletes' on performance enhancing drugs at the 2016 Olympics...............or if there were, they should definitely demand a refund.
northerner
Guest
They were exposed now because of a whistleblower, and because of an investigation that took a while to complete. They got away with it for so long because the whole power of the state was working to conceal the drugging. If it hadn't been, they might have been caught at Sochi.
northerner
Guest
Oh, I agree with that. We don't take doping seriously enough when it's Aussies involved - must be a mistake, or tampering, or a set up - and when it clearly isn't any of those things, denialism comes in big time, as with the two footy clubs. There are people who still believe Essendon got a bad deal. They got what they deserved; Cronulla got lucky.
delbeato
Roar Guru
There's more than one point. I agree with yours but just wanted to say that we shouldn't gloat too much.
Lano
Roar Guru
David writes short sentences and even shorter paragraphs to accentuate the gravity of his pronouncements. Both content and style are quite irritating.
spruce moose
Guest
he's not a boy from the suburbs though... He's a Sydney north shore conservative.
northerner
Guest
That's not really the point. The point is that in Russia, the doping was organized by the state, the labs were deliberately hiding positive tests, and the state itself was making sure those samples were replaced. Sure, no country can claim all it's athletes are 100% clean. But when a government is caught actually organizing the doping, you're talking a different level of corruption than a couple of out of control supplements programs and a handful of individual dopers.
spruce moose
Guest
What type of comment is that? If you are going to single out 16 year old Chinese girls (clearly Ye Shiwen is your target), then just remember our teenage freaks as well. Shane Gould won 5 medals at age 15: clearly drugged by your logic. Ian Thorpe: World champion at 15, Triple gold medallist at 17. Drugs. Actually, look at the size of him. He must be running a lab. Grant Hackett - explains his rage. He's been on the juice since before he was weaned off his mum! Emily Seebohm won Olympic gold at 16...she must have been on drugs. Liesel Jones won silver medals as a 15 year old...the cheat. She set world records at 16. Imprison her! Literally dozens of teenagers from non communist countries have won Olympic medals. Hundreds more have competed. Fact: more Australian teenagers have won Olympic medals for swimming than Chinese swimmers (who are incidentally coached by Australians these days). You haven't a shred of proof the Chinese are doping. Such an insular comment.
Simoc
Guest
1. Why should FIFA remove the tournament from Russia? They shouldn't. Its David Lord caught short again for intellectual capacity as is so often the case in his "boy from the suburbs" reporting.
joe
Guest
You have proof they aren't using? The Chinese government is putting out 16 yr old girls who have been living their childhood years in swimming camps to bring glory & honor to the nation on the grandest of international stages,girls who's physiques resemble something out of a lab,aren't using performance enhancers then by all means believe that. They are no different than the Russians or former East German athletes.The government forces them to use these drugs,its fairly well documented. If you choose to believe they're doing it all above board that's your prerogative,I have a hard time believing they are on the up & up.
damo
Guest
I think Russia have already shown us what the Olympic rings stand for, and they are simply the unlucky ones who were found out. I think the more pertinent question is not so much how they got away with it for so long, but more why have they been exposed at this juncture ?
delbeato
Roar Guru
Doping remains a major issue in elite sports. I agree Russia should be banned as state-sponsored doping is sufficient grounds to can the whole team. But don't think doping is restricted to Russia and that it isn't taking place in all other competing nations, including Australia. Who of our athletes is on the juice? It's unlikely that the answer is 'none of them'.
Sir Alfie
Guest
Before we start pontificating here in Australia, I only have 2 words for you: "Paul" & "Gallen" But hey, he and his "ignorant" mates did serve a couple of weeks, so lets climb back on our high horse!
spruce moose
Guest
"Half their womens swimming team is totally jacked up on who knows what?" So you have proof of this do you?
joe
Guest
Please,give me a break with the whole "show Russia what the Olympic rings stand for" garbage.Surely you aren't that naive to think the Olympics are some sort of platform for integrity & fair play? The Olympic committee & bigwigs are as corrupt as it gets.Its a traveling shakedown trying to get as much money as it can in its coffers.Basically the same as FIFA is.Extremely corrupt all the way around. As for Russia being taught a lesson for juicing,what about China?.Half their womens swimming team is totally jacked up on who knows what? US athletes are doping as well,so are athletes from a whole bunch of countries. Usually athletes from more advanced nations have superior masking agents to avoid getting busted but there's no doubt a lot of athletes are using something.
spruce moose
Guest
Questions: 1. Why should FIFA remove the tournament from Russia? And for what reason? Considering Russia’s performances at international events in football recently (at both senior and youth levels), you’d be hard pressed to suggest that doping is endemic in football as it is in the other olympic sports. And if it is, then they are doping poorly. It’s almost as absurd a suggestion as you saying 4 months ago that the 2016 Olympics should be moved to London. 2. What made Samaranch one of the worst presidents ever? 3. Conversely, what made Rogge a good president? 4. And whom do you believe the greatest ever president was? (No doubt you are now scrambling onto Google typing in “list of IOC presidents”)