IOC president Thomas Bach’s reluctance to ban Russia from the Rio Games and name newly-found drug cheats from Beijing and London has made a mockery of an organisation that predecessor Jacques Rogge fought so hard to clean up.
The IOC met last Tuesday, armed with more than enough ammunition to kick Russia out of Rio, having been found guilty of systematic and state-controlled drug-taking and switching positive tests for clean samples in 28 sports.
“No, we’ll await the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling on whether it was legal for the IAAF to ban Russia’s track and field team from Rio before we’ll react to banning Russia altogether,” was Bach’s weak response.
The Court ruled in favour of the IAAF last Thursday, so Bach had all his bases covered to punt Russia, but still he hasn’t moved.
The latest is the IOC will meet on Tuesday to discuss banning Russia, but won’t publicly give their decision before a full IOC meeting tomorrow week.
That’s July 31, just five days before the Rio opening ceremony.
By then Russia will have sent its team, minus track and field, to Rio, and be entrenched in the Olympic village.
Roarers, I’ll remind you of two columns I wrote on April 20, and May 13.
The first was the IOC will rue the day it awarded the Games to Rio – the second why the IOC should strip Rio of the Games and call on England with all its infrastructure intact from the 2012 Olympics.
Let’s face it, Rio is a basket case.
President Dilma Rousseff has been impeached, 49 of the 81-strong Senate are under investigation for corruption, while the sports minister, health minister, and national head of security have all pulled the coat – three of the most important ministerial positions for the Rio Olympics.
But that’s not all. From Mr Thomas Bach, there have been 98 new drug cheats found from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
Bach chirped – “The new reanalysis once again shows the commitment of the IOC in the fight against doping.”
Really?
So who are the 98 newly-found drug cheats who have been contacted and banned from Rio?
“We can’t release their names for confidentiality reasons,” was Bach’s pathetic reply.
What?
Why is this president covering for proven drug cheats from Beijing and London when the only obvious course of action is to name and shame them?
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
The interest in these Olympic Games is at an all time low. Here in South East Asia there has been virtually no coverage or interest. I was just in the US and it was the same. Is it the location? Or, does the world have higher priorities at this time?
spruce moose
Guest
I am genuinely curious about your love for jacques rogge. So, you say that the IOC would rue the day they awarded the games to Rio. Who presided over that decision (and voted for it)?: Rogge. Who awarded sochi? Rogge. Who was wined and dined by despots: Rogge. Check mate Mr Lord. Btw, your OUTRAGEOUS proposition to shift the games to Rio...if i recall correctly (and i do, cause I'm much, much smarter than you), no one with an education or brain supported your 'opinion'. 1. The necessity to coordinate security in the space of 3 months is impossible. 2. London dismantled much of their infrastructure long ago...namely, where would the 25000 athletes and officials live? The Olympic village is gone. Match 2. Check mate. 2-0. How is it you can be so continually clueless?
Gyfox
Guest
So Essendon has 2/3 of their team banned in a sport only played professionally in Australia. But when it comes to the pinnacle of international sport - when an example would have huge impact - WADA has no influence or authority?
HarryT
Guest
Many 18 year old elite athletes are confronted with the reality that they will require PEDs to progress in their chosen sport. This is a terrible decision, but it is important to understand that all athletes would prefer to compete clean and healthy. Accountability for doping is mostly apportioned to the athletes, but this article demonstrates that corrupt sporting administrators are the true villains when it comes to drug use in sport. When Russia starts switching samples for 28 sports the message to other competitors from other countries is that they need to dope in order to compete, given that PEDs will give a 10-15% improvement. 28 sports! And the President of the IOC prevaricates?