Turkish Olympic Committee Expects Recent Drug Busts To Help, Not Hinder, Host Candidacy

Turkey's Olympic committee insists "a spate of doping busts in the country will help rather than hinder their chances of hosting the 2020 Games," according to the AAP. Turkey Olympic Committee Head Ugur Erdener said, "The increase in the number of doping cases ... shows that Turkey is fighting doping, and in my opinion, will affect the Olympic bid positively, not negatively." The scandals "come in the final stages of Turkey's campaign to host the 2020 Games." Istanbul is competing against Madrid and Tokyo, with the IOC vote to be held Sept. 7. Erdener: "We are pressing ahead with our efforts to combat doping with tests conducted during and outside of competitions. Our fight has received international approval." Turkish Athletics Federation President Mehmet Terzi agreed with Erdener that "the chances of a successful Istanbul bid are enhanced when a federation fights against doping" and catches its own athletes and penalizes them (AAP, 7/11).