Heading into the summer Olympics there was a bit of a cloud of uncertainty regarding the status of the Russian delegation due to a widespread doping scandal. The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a total of 118 Russian athletes will be banned from competition over the next two weeks, leaving 271 of the 389 athletes to represent Russia.
The threat of having the entire Russian delegation banned from the Olympics was seemingly a realistic possibility as details of the investigation and allegations against Russian athletes were being learned. Recently, the IOC opted not to issue a total ban of Russian athletes, so as not to punish those who are legitimately clean and not acting above the Olympic rules and in violation of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The World Anti-Doping Agency fired off some harsh criticism of the IOC for its decision to allow the individual international sports committees to decide whether athletes from Russia in their specific sports will be eligible to compete in Rio to monitor and approve athletes for competing in the summer Olympics, suggesting the IOC was washing its hands of the responsibility (which they totally were).
So far we know Russian athletes have been banned from the games by the International Association of Athletics Federations and the International Weightlifting Federation, although a few exceptions will apply. Russian long jumper Darya Klishina, who is based in the United States, has been cleared to compete but must do so as a “neutral athlete.” This leaves me wondering just what song or anthem would be played should she win a gold medal. I’d cast a vote for “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.
[CNN]
