07 Jul. 2016– With the 2016 Rio Olympics right around the corner, people around the world are eager to see their countrymen and women bring home some silverware. For Russia, that may be impossible. With news spreading across the globe of perhaps the biggest doping scandal in sports history the Russians now face a potential ban from the Rio Games.
According to the New York Times, the world’s leading anti-doping officials have said that they want Russia banned from this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. President Putin on the other hand, says he wants to see more information, and claims politics has played a role in all of this causing a clash with the world of sports. However, when looking at the report provided by Canadian lawyer Richards McLaren, anything and everything you need to know about the scandal, is available. From interviews, to forensic evidence, and emails, McLaren gave us what we need dating back to 2011. Even revealing how urine samples were swapped through holes in the wall late at night.
Fellow Russian, and former Russian anti-doping lab director Dr. Gregory Rodchenkov himself not only gave the stunning information, but also named other Russian figures involved. One of them being Deputy Minister of Sports and a Russian Olympic Committee executive, Yuri Nagornykh. Irina Rodionova, the deputy director of the center of sports preparation of National Teams of Russia was accused of giving Dr. Rodchenkov the necessary information needed to know which Russian athlete’s urine sample he switched. Another name in McLaren’s report was anti-doping adviser to Russia’s sports minister Natalia Zhelanova. Obviously, the accusations were denied.
Dr. Rodchenkov also let McLaren know the nickname of what he used to prepare for athletes. According to the New York Times, it was called “the Duchess”. A blend of steroids and liquor that was given to the athletes before competing. The mixture of the two helped speed up the absorption process to avoid getting caught. According to Dr. Rodchenkov, all this was sanctioned by the government, and Russian Intelligence.
Evgeny Blokhin of the Russian intelligence personally helped the Doctor switch urine samples. Blokhin was in possession of a security badge, allowing him access wherever he wanted. Computers showed that the badge was being logged as a sewage and pipes engineer to avoid suspicion.
The International Olympic Committee is furious, and have given their word that any punishment given out, will be severe. They are meeting today to decide what should be done after receiving all the information they needed.
Craig Reedie, the President of Anti-Doping Organization revealed that not only were the Sochi Games showered in tampering of urine samples, but also the 2013 Track and Field World Championships in Moscow, the 2013 University Games in Kazan, and the 2012 London Games. Russia have already been banned from the Track and Field Games in Rio by the International Association of Athletics Federations, but are contesting it.
If that’s not enough, Canadian anti-doping officer Paul Melia is backing the idea of Russia being banned this summer.
With that being said, I wonder what information President Putin is asking to be provided with. As bad as this looks for Russia, and it does look very bad, it may look worse for the Olympics. Surely they know that, and will act accordingly as soon as possible.
Article By: Nick Husni
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