UK Athletics Chair Ed Warner said that Russia's expulsion from next year's Olympics "could lead to a Cold War-style boycott of the Games by its allies," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Warner insisted that a return of the bitter divisions of the '80s over sport's biggest event "was a price worth paying if Russia continued to engage in the kind of state-sponsored doping that was dramatically laid bare on Monday." The IAAF "is to consider banning Russia from global events, something Warner wants to see in addition to the country being stripped of next summer's World Junior Championships." That could lead to it being expelled from the Olympics by the IOC, something Warner felt may result in a boycott of Rio 2016 by nations loyal to "Mother Russia." He said, "It has to be a risk, but it's not one that I care about. I wouldn't want to let off a miscreant nature for fear that others would fall in line behind it and give the IOC a bigger headache." Warner, who is also chairman of the 2017 World Championships in London, added, "Am I prepared personally to see an Olympics or World Championships denuded of some countries because they're sticking up for Russia? I'd take that. Personally, I'd take that damage to the event. The event would be stronger for being seen to not allow non-compliant athletes to compete" (TELEGRAPH, 11/10).
