Britain’s world and Olympic long jump champion, Greg Rutherford, "led the condemnation" of the IOC's decision not to issue a blanket ban on the Russia team for Rio, calling it "a spineless attempt to appear as the nice guy to both sides," and warning the IOC had thrown away the opportunity to make a clear statement of intent against those who cheat, according to Sean Ingle of the London GUARDIAN. Rutherford: "I had a terrible feeling that arms would be twisted. We know the pros and the cons of a blanket ban, we know the risks of ‘collective justice,’ but we also know the risk of not punishing a culture of doping that comes from the very top." Rutherford believes the IOC "has created an unseemly mess." He said, "We’ve certainly not been given a clear message of transparency and progress. I would have almost been happier if the decision had been a bullish refusal to act in any way. But no, what we have now is a messy, grey area that doesn’t help anyone." Giving her reaction to the IOC’s decision, marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe wrote, "A sad day for Clean Sport. A decision that shows the IOC’s primary concern is not to protect clean athletes" (GUARDIAN, 7/24). REUTERS' Karolos Grohmann wrote the United States Anti-Doping Agency said that the IOC "had failed to show leadership with its decision." USADA CEO Travis Tygart said, "Many, including clean athletes and whistleblowers, have demonstrated courage and strength in confronting a culture of state-supported doping and corruption within Russia. Disappointingly, however, in response to the most important moment for clean athletes and the integrity of the Olympic Games, the IOC has refused to take decisive leadership" (REUTERS, 7/25). In Sydney, Reece Homfray wrote Australian Olympic Gold Medalist Jared Tallent said that "he has lost faith in the Olympic movement following the IOC’s decision not to apply a blanket ban on Russian athletes in Rio." Tallent said that "he was not looking forward to this year’s Games like Beijing or London because he feels the IOC has failed clean athletes in every sport." He said, "I think the IOC have their head in the sand. They haven’t taken that hard line and made a stand for clean sport and stuck up for clean athletes and drawn a line in the sand like what the IAAF have done" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 7/25). The BBC reported the World Anti-Doping Agency is "disappointed" its recommendation to ban Russia from next month's Olympic Games in Rio has been rejected.
WADA "stands by" its recommendation last month of a full Russia team ban.
And WADA Dir General Olivier Niggli said the IOC's decision will "inevitably" mean "lesser protection for clean athletes." WADA President Craig Reedie said investigators had "exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping program in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code." Reacting to the IOC's decision, British IOC member Adam Pengilly said, "I believe that the Russian federation has mocked the Olympic movement and I worry about the future of clean sport, I worry about the future for clean athletes, the Olympic movement and the Olympic Games. Some have suggested the IOC has passed the buck and I'd have to agree." Radcliffe said, "While I applaud no athlete going to the Games who has previously served a doping suspension, this cannot fairly be only Russian athletes. A truly strong message for clean sport would have been to ban all those who have been caught cheating" (BBC, 7/25).
