An email correspondence revealed that antidoping officials from at least 10 nations and 20 athlete groups "are preparing the extraordinary step of requesting that the entire Russian delegation be barred from the Summer Olympics over allegations of a state-sponsored doping program," according to Rebecca R. Ruiz of the N.Y. TIMES.
The antidoping officials and athletes "were expected to pressure Olympic leaders on the matter as soon as Monday -- less than three weeks before the opening ceremony in Rio." They "were waiting for the results of an investigation" into claims published in the N.Y. Times of a state-sponsored doping program conducted by Russian officials at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Former Russian Antidoping Lab Dir Grigory Rodchenkov said in May that "he followed government orders to cover up the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs by dozens of Russian Olympians at the Sochi Games." Russian officials "dismissed allegations of a state-run doping program as a Western conspiracy intended to smear Russia." The country’s track and field team "has already been barred from the Rio Games for doping violations; calls for sanctions against Russian athletes in every sport would be unprecedented and would likely escalate the geopolitical debate." At least 10 national antidoping organizations and more than 20 athlete groups representing Olympians from around the world "have banded together" as they anticipate validation of Rodchenkov’s claims. Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations CEO Joseph de Pencier wrote, "It seems very likely that the Report will confirm what will be one of the biggest doping scandals in history, implicating the Russian Government in a massive conspiracy against the clean athletes of the world. This will be a ‘watershed moment’ for clean sport." U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart said, "We’re not asking for the worst, and obviously we hope there’s no doping going on by states. But if we’re not preparing for all potential outcomes, then we’re not fulfilling our promise to clean athletes." U.S. and Canadian antidoping officials "were planning to call for a wider ban of Russian athletes at the Rio Games" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/16). The AFP reported the Olympic movement "faces division in a critical week ahead of the Rio Games with a report Monday to set out whether Russia manipulated doping samples, followed quickly by a sports tribunal verdict on 68 Russian athletes demanding to compete in Rio." A World Anti-Doping Agency decision on whether to let the Rio doping laboratory reopen "could also hamper" IOC preparations. An int'l sports federation president who is also a senior IOC member said, "It's an incredibly important week that could crack the unity built up on doping." A report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren "has caused divisions before it is even released in Toronto on Monday with the United States and Canada leading calls for a potential complete ban on Russia from the Rio Games which start on August 5." The Canadian investigator said in June that the early results of his work had found "credible and verifiable" evidence to back the allegations made to the N.Y. Times by Rodchenkov, who is now in hiding in the U.S. Paul Melia, president of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, which carries out anti-doping efforts in Canada, said that "countries must be ready to ban Russia completely from Rio if the McLaren report confirms the Rodchenkov allegations." European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hickey said he was "shocked," however, by U.S. and Canadian efforts to press for a ban before the McLaren report is even released. Hickey said, "My concern is that there seems to have been an attempt to agree an outcome before any evidence has been presented" (AFP, 7/17).
LETTER LEAK: REUTERS' Karolos Grohmann wrote WADA board member Nenad Lalovic said that the leaking of a draft letter urging a complete ban on Russian athletes at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics "has undermined a key report into doping allegations at the 2014 Sochi Games." The leaked letter, addressed to the IOC, backed by several anti-doping agencies and circulated to the WADA athlete committee, "called for all Russian athletes to be banned from the Rio Games." Lalovic, who heads United World Wrestling and is also a member of WADA’s foundation board, said that "the letter would weaken the McLaren report, if it offered clear evidence of doping offences." Lalovic said, "Unfortunately this report is harmed by all the events before the report is public. Obviously the report focuses on the situation in Russia but we cannot generalize. Of course it has been harmed now. Nobody will now take it as seriously as it should be because it seems that a lot was known in advance" (REUTERS, 7/17). REUTERS' Katya Golubkova wrote Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko "was surprised by a draft letter" by USADA calling for a complete ban on Russia competing at the Rio Olympics. Mutko said, "The McLaren report is yet to be published, but for them (USADA) everything is already clear. This is surprising. May be it was Tygart who wrote the report himself? I would not be surprised" (REUTERS, 7/17).
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Yelena Isinbaeva
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NO REPLY: The IANS reported two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbaeva said that the Int'l Association of Athletics Federations' actions suggest the organization had got orders from "somebody" not to allow any Russians at any cost at the Rio Olympics. The IAAF earlier "rejected applications from all Russian athletes for participation in international competitions, including the Rio Olympic Games starting on August 5, except for long jump athlete Darya Klishina, who is trained outside Russia." Isinbaeva wrote on Instagram, "Athletes from other countries count days to opening of the Olympic Games, while we -- to decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Where the global athletics is going to, and when will this all be over. Nobody replies. For the first time, over the 20-years' career in sports, I have to confirm in the court the right to participate in the Games. ... I have a feeling, IAAF got an order -- not to allow at any cost. Alas" (IANS, 7/17).
