When the Int'l Association of Athletics Federations announces on Friday whether athletes from Russia are allowed to compete in the Olympics, "few of their compatriots will view the decision as a sporting matter."
The Kremlin "is already outraged about the allegations of its national champions doping, seeing the scandal as part of a western-inspired campaign against the country." And a ban on its track and field stars at the Games in Rio de Janeiro -- seen as the IAAF’s most likely move when it make its decision -- "would fuel Moscow’s political stand-off with the west."
Two people who are familiar with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s thinking warned that a ban from the Rio Olympics as a result of the doping allegations "would leave the president with little choice but to crank up his anti-western rhetoric." A Russian businessman, who had discussed sporting issues with Putin, said, "Sports and national pride are two key themes in his leadership. How can he not respond angrily if they take these away from us?" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/15).
OPENING THE PROCESS: As planning continues for the new-look eight-team competition, Netball Australia "has established a working group of past players and coaches to consider the proposed changes."
But Netball Australia "has also decided to open up the consultative process to include the viewing public alongside current teams and players." Netball Australia CEO Kate Palmer said that "it was important to canvass the opinions of those who watched and supported the game." Palmer: "We really want to know what the fans think of it ... we’re really keen to hear from the fans about what they think and what ideas they have and certainly give their feedback on some of the proposed changes" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 6/15).
COMING CLEAN: The head of UK Anti-Doping "has admitted his organisation 'failed' in its handling of a British doctor who allegedly prescribed performance-enhancing drugs to 150 elite sportspeople," including Premier League footballers.
Mark Bonar, an anti-aging specialist, "was secretly filmed" claiming to have supplied banned substances to British Tour de France cyclists and a British boxing champion. Admitting that "mistakes" were made, UKAD Chair David Kenworthy insisted there "had not been enough hard evidence for his organisation" -- whose powers are limited to the world of sport -- to investigate Bonar.
However, he conceded that a note to refer the case to the General Medical Council "had been ignored, referring to the oversight as a 'failure'" (London TELEGRAPH, 6/15).
