US Anti-Doping Agency criticizes decision to allow Russia to participate in Olympic Games
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency called the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow the Russian team to participate in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro an enormous blow against clean athletes.
“Many people, including clean athletes and informants, demonstrated strong character and strength in the fight against the culture of doping and corruption in Russia. However, unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee didn’t take on the role of leader at a crucial moment for clean athletes and the integrity of Olympic Games. The decision to admit Russian athletes and all this chaos is an enormous blow against clean athletes,” the USADA noted.
The Agency expressed frustration at the International Olympic Committee handing over the baton at a crucial time to the International Federations that may not have enough adequate expertise or collective will in this situation because there is little time left before the start of the Games. “The conflict of interests is evident,” their statement said.
The former President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Richard Pound, believes that the International Olympic Committee lost the opportunity to make a serious statement for the fight against doping. The New York Times quotes Pound as saying that they had “the opportunity to make a serious statement but they missed it.”
If another country, for example Denmark, had participated in this case, the decision on full suspension would likely have been made immediately. The meeting of the Executive Committee members of the IOC was held yesterday. The members agreed that the Russian team will not be suspended from the Olympic Games.