http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36871747 Rio Olympics 2016: Ban Russia from Games, says British IOC member Russia should be banned from Rio 2016, says British International Olympic Committee member Adam Pengilly. The two-time Olympian, 38, told BBC Sport the country must be punished over its ongoing doping crisis. "The scale, co-ordination and leadership of a doping system like this is arguably the most heinous crime possible against the Olympic movement," said the former skeleton racer. ADVERTISEMENT "So, somewhat reluctantly, I am led to one conclusion: exclusion from Rio." Olympic stars sign letter urging Rio ban Many Great Britain Olympic and Paralympic stars have endorsed a letter sent by The Times to the IOC urging the organisation to ban Russia from Rio. The signatories include swimmer Rebecca Adlington, 400m hurdler Sally Gunnell, long jumper Lynn Davies and 11-time Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The letter, which was organised by the newspaper, has been sent to the IOC's executive board, which will make the decision on whether to have a blanket ban on Russia's participation. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has already excluded Russia's track and field team from the Games. Russian flag 'should not be flown' at Rio Pengilly, a member of the IOC's Athletes' Commission and one of four British IOC members, conceded: "I say reluctantly [that Russia should be banned] because there are very probably clean Russian athletes, and they will suffer, and this is nothing short of terrible. "It's an incredibly tough decision. There's no fair outcome for everyone." But he insisted: "The Russian flag should not be flown at the Rio Olympic Games." In 2013 Pengilly received praise for raising the issue of doping before the vote to decide a host of the 2020 Games, questioning both Spain and Turkey during their bid presentations in Buenos Aires. No place for doping in sport - Putin Russia waits to learn Paralympic fate Retests uncover 45 new doping failures Russia could face a blanket ban after a damning report compiled by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren claimed it operated a state-sponsored doping programme from 2011 to 2015. The IOC is exploring "legal options" before deciding whether to implement "a collective ban" on all Russian competitors for the global showpiece, which starts on 5 August. A decision by its executive board could come on Sunday. "Clean athletes, the Olympic Games and the wider Olympic movement have been mocked," Pengilly said. "However, Russia is an important sporting nation - we want and need them fully involved in the future, but only when they can do it cleanly. "Therefore, I firmly believe that we should offer support and assistance to the Russian Federation so they can escape from this ugly culture and cycle." Has the IPC been naive? Russia will find out in August if it is to be banned from the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has "opened suspension proceedings" following the publication of the McLaren report earlier this week. Paralympian David Weir has accused the IPC of being "naive" in their handling of doping allegations. The wheelchair athlete, who won four golds at London 2012, told BBC Sport: "It looks like they are being naive and maybe thought that Paralympians don't cheat, but they are all public funded and there are sponsors so if you want that margin gain maybe you will cheat. "The IPC should have put their foot down straight away." 'Collective punishment unacceptable' Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev said he was "saddened" by the "unacceptable" prospect of a total ban on Russian competitors. Gorbachev, the last General Secretary of the Soviet Union before its dissolution in 1991, has written an open letter to the IOC. In it, he said: "I support the fight against prohibited substances in sport. It is evil that must be eradicated. Those athletes who are proven to have doped should be banned from competitions. "At the same time, I am concerned and deeply saddened by the possibility that in case all Russian athletes are banned from competing in the Olympic Games, the innocent will be punished together with the guilty."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-programme.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline Some people seem to be convinced.
Why only cite the reports or news articles from a particular country's main stream media? How fair, objective and impartial are they ?
Why only cite the reports or news articles from a particular country's main stream media? How fair, objective and impartial are they ?
Actually, he asked, Will they? I said Yes,they will coz they have already made their mind. Should they? No.
Yes, the powers that be will ensure that they will be banned. Sorry, I misinterpreted your simple answer, yes, thought you supported it. We all care for cleanliness in sport. But only the guilty ones must be charged based on the evidence (whether direct or circumstantial), subject to an open and fair trial, after thorough investigations, with due process of the law without external interference, much less serving anybody's political agendas,and fully upholding the Olympic spirit.
Russia athletes escape blanket ban from IOC for Rio Olympic Games https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/24/russia-team-escape-blanket-ban-ioc-rio-olympic-games
Still, it's not so simple, IOC is saying the fate of Team Russia in Rio lies with the Sports Federations but there are certain criteria,have to wait for further news; as they say, the devil is in the details. It seems the Russian track and field athletes remain banned until now. And all those athletes previously incriminated in doping will not be allowed to go to Rio. Funny thing is Amercian athletes formerly banned for doping, eg Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, are allowed to take part at Rio.
response from Americans: “Many, including clean athletes and whistleblowers, have demonstrated courage and strength in confronting a culture of state-supported doping and corruption within Russia,” said U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart in a statement. “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. The decision regarding Russian participation and the confusing mess left in its wake is a significant blow to the rights of clean athletes.” “The IOC has stated before that they believe anti-doping should be wholly independent, and that is in part why it is so frustrating that in this incredibly important moment, they would pass the baton to sports federations who may lack the adequate expertise or collective will to appropriately address the situation within the short window prior to the Games. The conflict of interest is glaring.” http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-issue-blanket-ban-russian-athletes/87498940/
This is the most sensible and fair decision. And they can always step up the testing at Rio and then after the games retroactively remove any medals won by any athletes later found to be positive.
The level of propaganda in western mainstream media on this issue is only second to #Brexit. Times journalist (1st question in the press conference): (paraphrase) "Why did you not ban the entire delegation?" IOC Spokesman: "Why do you insist on banning the entire delegation?" (Times printed editorials calling for a complete ban before the decision was made) Do you think the Times journalist actually know about the Russian badmintion athletes/scene or the Russian table-tennis athletes/scene? Typical western/modern virtue-signalling and identity politics .... These so-called journalists/politician-wannabes probably don't even realize that some athletes need to train and compete outside of Russia extensively like Sharapova-- so having a state-sponsored program (how to switch samples when labs are not in your country?) doesn't really "work" as well as having a personal physician game the system. Too bad the US didn't get a Chinese defector, or they could have gotten the entire Chinese team banned-- considering how the entire Chinese sports/olympic program is under much more state-control/sponsorship. (Chinese labs had earlier failed international standards, so the Uber/Thomas Cup tests results were delayed because they had to be done outside China).
What a wonderful example to put forward, Sharapova, when argueing for banning Russian athletes is unfair...
Well at least the Russian contingent (Tennis) got a green signal and are now all set to play, Elena/Ekaterina
Just a que, Since the Athletics fed has banned Russian delegation to participate in Rio, does that mean the Pale vault event will proceed in the ensence of my fav,Yelena Isinbayeva? If yes it'll be extremely harsh for the legend at her last year of pro career
