After Russia was banned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and other sports events over the next four years, many were angry and unsatisfied claiming the punishment was not severe enough.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced its decision this week after a long-running scandal with athletes, coaches, and officials being caught in a doping scheme. However, even though Russia can’t participate as a nation, some individual athletes may still compete as ‘neutrals’ if they persuade the commission that they have not cheated.
As Head of the US Anti-Doping Agency Travis T. Tygart said, “To allow Russia to escape a complete ban is yet another devastating blow to clean athletes…Here we go again. WADA says one thing and does something entirely different.”
It all started back in 2014 during the Winter Olympics in Sochi. However, even though the investigations regarding a state-run program were put in place, Russia was still allowed to compete in the next Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Later, after the nation was banned, 168 Russians participated at the Winter Games as “Olympic athletes from Russia” under a neutral flag.
Yet after all, Olympic agencies including WADA, saw excluding Russia from the next Olympic Games as a wise move. A Norwegian politician and WADA vice president, Linda Hofstad Helleland, said, “A blanket ban can make the Russian leadership realize the seriousness of the mess they have created — for themselves and for their athletes.”
Now the decision of WADA was backed up by delay of handling data by RUSADA. After finally receiving papers, WADA got suspicious and after several check ups concluded that data had been removed or altered.
Russia will not be able to host any major events anymore, neither Russian officials will be able to attend events or serve as members of international sports committees.
Meanwhile, Russia is getting ready to file an appeal with the international Court of Arbitration for Sport. But after all, the committee states that they have no intention of punishing innocent ones. Therefore, Russian athletes still can apply for eligibility in the Olympic Games if they will pass the doping tests.
At the same time, Russian boxers announced that they are ready to boycott the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and stand against a four-year ban imposed by anti-doping authorities.
As the federation’s general secretary, Umar Kremlev, pointed out, “For us, the most important thing is that our boxers appear under the flag of Russia and the sound of our anthem. Without this, there is no sense in participating.”
Notably, the arrangement extends as far as the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
By Natalia Revishvili, ForexNewsNow.com