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IOC Backs IAAF's Ban Of Russian Track & Field Team From Rio Games

IOC officials on Saturday said that they agreed with the IAAF's ruling that "barred Russia's track and field team from the Summer Olympics," ending any "hope the team had of gaining entry into the Rio Games," according to Rebecca Ruiz of the N.Y. TIMES. After Olympic officials conversed by phone to assess the decision, the IOC said it "welcomes and supports" the ruling by the IAAF and commended its "strong stance against doping." IOC officials plan to convene tomorrow at its HQ in Lausanne, Switzerland to "discuss more broadly who will be eligible to compete at the Rio Games." The IOC said that tomorrow's summit "would scrutinize countries whose national antidoping programs had been disciplined" by WADA (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19). The IOC on Saturday also said that it will "take 'further far-reaching measures' to crack down on doping ahead of the games." The AP's Stephen Wilson noted the "strong statement appeared to rule out any possibility of the IOC trying to overturn or amend the IAAF decision." There had "been speculation that the IOC could try to impose a compromise that would allow Russian athletes without doping violations to be able to compete." Russia's only "recourse for fighting the decision will be at the Court of Arbitration for Sport." Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said, "Judging by the statement, our athletes have no chance." But he added that Russia "would continue to push for their inclusion" (AP, 6/18).

FLAVOR OF THE MONTH
: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Futterman & Germano noted the IAAF's move "casts a large shadow" over the Games. The decision is "virtually unprecedented for the Olympic movement, which in the past has avoided assigning collective responsibility for doping violations and has never taken on one of the world’s most powerful countries." The "exclusion of Russian athletes will likely have a significant impact on results at the Olympics, where Russia has been a dominant force in track and field, winning 78 medals since the fall of the Soviet Union" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/18). A CHICAGO SUN-TIMES editorial is under the header, "A Bold, Cold Move To Get Russia To Play By Olympic Rules" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/18). In Chicago, Rick Telander wrote Russia's track and field team is the "cheating flavor du jour," but the Rio Games will "spit out all kinds of new dopers." It "always happens," and though people fight doping, "it will never end" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/18).

MINOR SUBPLOT: In N.Y., Sandomir & Jacobs wrote the ruling "may amount to little more than a minor subplot in NBC's telecast" of the Olympics. The absence of the Russian team is "unlikely to hurt NBC's prime-time ratings for several reasons, among them the likelihood that the removal of a major rival might help" the U.S. win more medals. Former NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol said, "I can't see there being any impact. Anything that helps you win more medals is a help." Ebersol said the disciplinary action against Russia's team was "as strong and complete a statement on doping and what will happen to you if you systematically cheat." Ebersol: "This is great for all sport and anybody who wants a real step forward in clean competition" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19).

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