Doped Russia

From the BBC:

"Doping: Russian athletes remain banned from competition including Olympics"

Russian athletes remain banned from international competition including the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Athletics chiefs have decided not to lift the suspension, which was imposed in November following accusations of state-sponsored doping. But individual athletes can compete as neutrals if they prove they are clean. Meanwhile, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva said she would challenge the IAAF's decision in court, claiming it was "a human rights violation".In a statement, Russia's Ministry of Sport said it was "extremely disappointed" by the IAAF decision. It continued: "Clean athletes' dreams are being destroyed because of the reprehensible behaviour of other athletes and officials. They have sacrificed years of their lives striving to compete at the Olympics and now that sacrifice looks likely to be wasted. "We have done everything possible since the ban was first imposed to regain the trust of the international community. We have rebuilt our anti-doping institutions which are being led by respected international experts. IAAF president Lord Coe said "no politics" were involved in the decision over Russia's ban. He emphasised the unanimous nature of the verdict and the international range of council members. The USA track and field team said it supported Russia's continued suspension "to ensure clean and fair competition for all athletes". It added in a statement: "It is the only proper course of action given the compelling and powerful evidence presented to council.  "We do not believe that every Russian athlete cheated, and it is unfortunate and regrettable that some may pay a penalty for the serious transgressions of their federation. A summary of the taskforce report states Russia must show a culture of zero tolerance towards doping in athletics.  Although significant progress has been made to meet the IAAF's criteria, work still remains. In particular:

• The deep-seated culture of tolerance for doping appears not to have changed. The head coach of the athletics team and athlete appear unwilling to acknowledge the extent of the doping problem.
• A strong and effective anti-doping infrastructure capable of detecting and deterring doping has still not been created.
• There are detailed allegations that the Ministry of Sport has orchestrated systematic doping and cover-ups.

However, the report does state that if individual athletes can convincingly show they are not tainted by the system, they will be allowed to compete in international competition, not for Russia but as a neutral athlete. The country was suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after an independent Wada report depicted a culture of widespread doping, with even the secret services involved. Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has since said he is "very sorry" cheating athletes were not caught by the country's anti-doping systems, but stopped short of admitting the scandal had been state-sponsored.A taskforce has been studying the Russian reforms but a fresh World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) report, issued on Wednesday, made more damaging claims. Wada said officials in Russia were being stopped from testing athletes and threatened by security services. International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president John Coates said Russia's athletes should remain banned and not be allowed to take part in the Rio Games this summer. He also said Russia's anti-doping agency and athletics body were "rotten to the core". However, the IOC could still allow Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics, which begin on 5 August. IOC officials gather in Lausanne on Tuesday to discuss the matter, with some concerned a suspension would punish innocent athletes. According to Mutko, Russia has been reforming its anti-doping programme since it was banned in November.

He says it has:

• Introduced independent testing        Introduced additional testing    Overhauled the Russian Anti-Doping Agency        Overhauled the Russian Athletics Federation    Introduced stricter rules for doping       Introduced lessons on anti-doping in schools

^ There is a history in Russia (from Czarist, Soviet and modern times) to do whatever is necessary to get things done. What is considered "legal" or "morally right" in other countries and cultures are not always the same within Russia. The key objective is to get ahead and that usually means to "bend" the rules. I have personally seen countless examples of this both from Russians within Russia as well as Russians outside of Russia. I have seen it done by both ordinary Russians as well as Russians in some kind of government position. I have seen "favors" done because of goods being passed. I know people who got their driver's license without taking and passing a driving test. Men who got a health deferment from the Russian Military (they still have the Draft) without being examined by a doctor. The examples are numerous and I could go on and on. While the Western World would see doing these kinds of things as "illegal" or "cheating" Russians generally see it as "surviving." I do think this kind of thinking was officially used in Russian sports and am glad that it has led to this ban. It is one thing for Russians to do this within Russia and with other Russians, but when Russians want to be part of the international community they have to follow the same international rules and laws as everyone else. The ban won't change the overall Russian culture (most Russians see the ban being placed not because they did anything illegal, but because the whole world is always against Russia no matter what) but it will show that there are consequences to your actions. I believe the IOC will remove the ban at the last minute because the IOC is more interested in getting kick-backs from countries and teams than about the sports and rules. ^

http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/36562570