IOC To Continue To Pursue Olympic Doping Bans Despite Ruling

The IOC will "continue to attempt to ban athletes caught doping" from future Olympics even after the Court of Arbitration for Sport yesterday ruled that the "suspensions would be illegal." The court said that the IOC can have "anti-doping rules re-written to include an Olympic suspension, but that current legislation doesn't allow the punishment." The IOC in '08 "moved to stop those suspended for more than six months for a doping violation from taking part in the next Games, even if their ban had ended." IOC Coordination Commission Chair Denis Oswald: "We will work with [WADA] and see how we can make sure that in the long term we implement that rule" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/7).

Meanwhile, the IOC wants LOCOG to "make sure the opening ceremony of next year's Olympics finishes by midnight" so the athletes can return to the Athlete's Village "at a reasonable hour." Oswald said that "arrangements should also be made to allow athletes to leave before the end of the ceremony" (AP, 10/7).