The IOC is "holding emergency talks" today to "decide Russia's status for the Rio Olympics after an investigation found rampant state-run doping" at the '14 Sochi Games and other events. WADA "called for all Russian competitors and officials to be banned from next month's Games and other events." A probe by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren for WADA "found Russia's secret service helped 'the state-dictated failsafe system' carried out by the Moscow sports ministry and sprawling into 30 sports over five years" (AFP, 7/19). The IOC is "likely to hold off on making any major pronouncement until after Thursday, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport is scheduled to rule on a lawsuit on behalf of Russia’s track and field athletes contesting their ban from Rio" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/19).
USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes under the header, "Russia Must Be Kicked Out Of Rio Olympics." To allow Russia to compete in Rio is to "taint the entire Olympic Games." If the IOC and the Olympics "stand for anything, the Russian flag must not fly in Rio" (USA TODAY, 7/19). The N.Y. TIMES editorial board writes under the header, "Ban Russia From The Rio Olympics" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/19). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes, "Even by today's jaded standards, the Russia scandal is pretty bonkers" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/19).
