After the uncovering of a massive, systematic and unprecedented doping scandal in Russian athletics, the I.A.A.F, track’s governing body, issued a potentially unprecedented decision: Russia’s track and field team will be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. The IOC is due to talk over the decision on Tuesday, but it is unlikely that they will amend or even reverse the decision.
Russian track athletes have been suspended from international competition for the last seven months after WADA published a report which accused the nation of a massive, systemic and government supported doping program, the likes of which have not been seen since East Germany during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Russian authorities denied the charges, but also didn’t contest the suspension. Since then, the New York Times and 60 Minutes have furthered WADA’s claims with extensive reporting of their own backing the claims.
Russia will be appealing, as expected.
The Russian ministry of sport said in a statement on Friday that it was “extremely disappointed,” adding: “We now appeal to the members of the International Olympic Committee to not only consider the impact that our athletes’ exclusion will have on their dreams and the people of Russia, but also that the Olympics themselves will be diminished by their absence.”
When nations are barred from international athletic competition, normally they are for political reasons, not doping, so this ban is certainly unprecedented. WADA has also claimed that Russian attempts to reform the system aren’t quite on the up-and-up, including that testing agencies in the UK have been threatened by the Russian secret service.
“Athletes have been losing sleep,” said Lauryn Williams, a track and field and bobsled athlete from the United States. “You can’t have faith in anybody who is Russian.”
Thomas Bach’s recent comments have suggested that Russian athletes who have not been caught previously might be able to compete in Rio, but he’s also said that other Russian sport agencies found to have sponsored doping could be banned as well.
