Despite massive doping scandal, Russian athletes will participate in 2016 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided it didn’t have the guts to kick the Russian team out of this year’s Olympics. They could have done so. Instead, they’ll leave it up to the federations (organizations that oversee each sport).
IOC kicked the ball down the road
Instead of issuing the ban, leaving it up to the federations — that may or may not have expertise, or the ability to accurately access independent testing labs — drew criticism.
“… in response to the most important moment for clean athletes and the integrity of the Olympic Games, the IOC has refused to take decisive leadership. The decision regarding Russian participation and the confusing mess left in its wake is a significant blow to the rights of clean athletes.” — U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart (via statement in USA Today)
Some quick background…
Russia’s track-and-field athletes have already been banned. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended a ban of all Russian athletes after it discovered a state-sanctioned doping scheme that hid more than 300 positive tests for banned substances.
“The findings of the report show a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games. Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organisation(sic) implicated,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement after the WADA report was released.
But then, they didn’t.
Alexander Shukov, President of the Russian Olympic Committe (ROC) told the IOC the Russians have fully cooperated and restructured its anti-doping practices. He also told the IOC that all Russian athletes selected for this year’s Olympics have been tested over a six month period by non-Russian control officers and samples analyzed in non-Russian labs. He says more than 3,000 samples have been submitted and “the vast majority were negative.”
“We had to balance the collective responsibility and the individual justice to which every human being and athlete is entitled to.” — IOC president Thomas Bach
“The conflict of interest is glaring.” — U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart (via statement in USA Today)
If you’re waiting for the federations…
Just a few hours after the IOC announcement, the International Tennis Federation said it had approved Russia’s team to compete. Two other federations overseeing gymnastics and swimming have gone on record saying they have opposed a ban.
Only the International Weightlifting Federation has gone on the record as considering a ban — due to the large number of positive tests. But they have yet to do so.
“An athlete should not suffer and should not be sanctioned for a system in which he was not implicated… This is not about expectations. This is about doing justice to clean athletes all over the world.” — IOC president Thomas Bach
IOC Ruling and Decision
- The IOC will not accept any entry of any Russian athlete in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 unless such athlete can meet the conditions set out below.
- Entry will be accepted by the IOC only if an athlete is able to provide evidence to the full satisfaction of his or her International Federation (IF) in relation to the following criteria:
- The IFs*, when establishing their pool of eligible Russian athletes, to apply the World Anti-Doping Code and other principles agreed by the Olympic Summit (21 June 2016).
- The absence of a positive national anti-doping test cannot be considered sufficient by the IFs.
- The IFs should carry out an individual analysis of each athlete’s anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of the athlete’s sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field.
- The IFs to examine the information contained in the IP Report, and for such purpose seek from WADA the names of athletes and National Federations (NFs) implicated. Nobody implicated, be it an athlete, an official, or an NF, may be accepted for entry or accreditation for the Olympic Games.
- The IFs will also have to apply their respective rules in relation to the sanctioning of entire NFs.
3. The ROC is not allowed to enter any athlete for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 who has ever been sanctioned for doping, even if he or she has served the sanction.
4. The IOC will accept an entry by the ROC only if the athlete’s IF is satisfied that the evidence provided meets conditions 2 and 3 above and if it is upheld by an expert from the CAS list of arbitrators appointed by an ICAS Member, independent from any sports organisation involved in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
5. The entry of any Russian athlete ultimately accepted by the IOC will be subject to a rigorous additional out-of-competition testing programme in coordination with the relevant IF and WADA. Any non-availability for this programme will lead to the immediate withdrawal of the accreditation by the IOC.
Why did the IOC not suspend the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)?
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)IAAF had suspended the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) after the corruption case involving ARAF and IAAF officials was described by the Independent Commission in 2015. That case is part of a criminal investigation by the French.
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) report, done by Prof. Richard McLaren, showed a systematic, state-sponsored attempt to subvert doping tests, mask results and hide results. But, as McLaren said “We did not identify an active role of the Russian Olympic Committee.” Therefore, the IOC took no additional action against the ROC.
