The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to lift Russia’s suspension three days after the Closing Ceremony of Pyeongchang 2018 has received more criticism.
Thomas Bach, photo by Olympic.org
The suspension, imposed in December for Russia’s “systemic manipulation” of the anti-doping system at Sochi 2014, was lifted on February 28 by the IOC Executive Board.
It came despite two athletes competing as part of the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) team having failed drugs tests during Pyeongchang 2018.
A statement by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) Athletes’ Commission claimed athletes from the country are “totally shocked” by the situation.
“The decision is not conclusive or understandable for the athletes,” it read.
“The given press release by the IOC is no satisfying explanation neither to the public nor to the athletes why this decision was made only a few days after the Games ended.
“We recognise in this approach that sport, especially the IOC, is not able to deal and lead through this crises.
“A public view will state a failure to make investigations transparent, a failure to control itself and a failure to implement effective sanction mechanisms.”
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RunBlogRun opines: Thomas Bach continues to lead the IOC by bad example. If anyone questions that we are in a new era of sports, they just need to see how the IOC appeased Russia with the re instatement. The IOC had an absolute chance to put pressure on Russia, and also put pressure on other countries to clean up their acts, but not now. Two athletes tested positve in the recent Winter Olympics.
As much as the IAAF can infuriate me at times, the stance by Seb Coe continues to mean something, to keep Russia out of the family of athletic nations until they get their act together.
Most important to me is that young athletes and fans look to adult actions rather than words on how to be guided. The IOC has given, by their actions, a huge lesson to the world’s youth, perhaps though, the not the lesson they intended.
