Having failed to follow the recommendation of the World Anti-Doping Agency McLaren Report and issue a blanket ban for the Russians, the International Olympic Committee instead adopted a three-step procedure that leaves the final decision to a panel appointed late on Saturday night.
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WADA’s independent report compiled by law professor Richard McLaren was published on July 18, outlining systematic state-backed doping in Russian Federation and triggering a series of sanctions only days before the start of the Brazil Olympics on August 5.
The Russian Olympic team have been the target of allegations of state-sponsored doping ahead of the Games which open Friday.
“I think that the political machinations are simple and that’s – while all of the world’s eyes are on Russian Federation as the villain of the piece, they’re distracted from the rest [of the Olympic participants, ]” he explained.
Overall, 65 percent wanted politics to play no part in the Games while about a quarter felt athletes should express their political views if they wish. “The IOC can not be made responsible for the timing of the incidents we have to face now, a couple of days before the Games”.
On the IOC’s overall efforts to protect clean athletes in the run-up to the Games, Bach referred to the targeted pre-testing programme in which 2,200 athletes were selected and also hailed what he said was “the most comprehensive re-analysis programme” for athletes who competed in the Beijing and London Games. I trust people will realise the hard situation we are in.
Bach defended that approach and issued a firm denial when asked if he had been politically influenced by the Russian delegation since the publication of the McLaren report.
“The executive board had to take a hard decision”.
WADA director general Olivier Niggli said: ” Further to the International Olympic Committee’s criteria being outlined on 24 July, WADA has facilitated the transfer of relevant information that is available to date, concerning individual athletes, from the McLaren Investigation team to International Federations.
But the IOC allowed Russian athletes with spotless doping records and sufficient worldwide drugs tests to compete, saying it would be unfair to punish clean athletes along with cheats. ‘We are looking forward to a great Games in Rio.
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Bach also said the IOC decision to ban whistleblower 800-meter runner Yulia Stepanova is in line with the Olympic Charter.
