IOC's decision: (clean) Russian athletes can compete under neutral flag at PyeongChang Olympics

[Twilight1]

Not true. East Germany, China, and I don't know who else, were never punished despite a lot of state sponsored cheating and winning medals.

From what I am reading, it sounds like the IOC has some special tests to determine 'clean' for only Russian athletes, and only the IOC gets to decide who from Russia will get to compete. The tests should be same for all countries. From what's written here, it doesn't sound that way.

ETA- strange that I had to click on reply 4 times before this got posted. Not surprisingly, this thread must be overloaded right now.

And East Germany was pre 1992 and many countries cheated.

Anti doping is a more modern phenomena and AGAIN, if proof is provided that China has cheated, I would support this same ban.

That you are trying to make this something else is ridiculous.

A cheater is a cheater is a cheater. Canadian or Russian. Ban cheaters.

Blame the cheaters not the people who caught them!!

 

[RoseRed]

I think that will remain to be seen though it seems unlikely that Russian figure skating judges were aware of, or involved with any of the doping scheme, the IOC decision does not mention judges or sports officials other than those directly tied to the Russian Olympic Committee.

"V. The panel, at its absolute discretion, will determine an invitation list for support staff and officials." I would assume that they would fall under 'officials' there. Maybe not tech panel people, since they represent the ISU when they're on the tech panel, but the judges represent their countries' federations. I don't see a reason why they shouldn't be allowed to go though.

I guess they won't if Russia ends up boycotting, though.

 

[Sylvia]

Has their been announcement from the Russian team that they will boycott?

NO. Putin has yet to address this topic directly (it may happen as early as tomorrow, Wednesday).

 

[caseyedwards]

NO. Putin has yet to address this topic directly.

He did address neutrality directly. He said total humiliation.

 

[Debbie S]

Judges spots are drawn based on country, so I guess it's up to the IOC (and maybe the ISU too) to determine if "Olympic judge from Russia" can be a thing. My guess is they will probably be there. Were there "Unified" judges at the 92 Olys?

 

[skatfan]

I agree that one needs to treat the countries the same. There is no East Germany, so that point is moot and there's no evidence of current state doping. Not sure what the charge against China are (age violations for women's gymnastics is what I can think of), but if the corrections have been made, then one is allowed to compete. It seems the issue here is the Russia refuses to come into line with the current rules, and the IOC is saying, no, you can't keep doing this.
If Russia pulls out (I'd say a > 50% probability), then I will be very sad for all the sports, especially figure skating. I love having Russians around - they pull up the competitiveness for Ladies and Pairs currently, and have been dominant with men and dance in previous quads. I can't imagine that there is any joy on this board to see these fine athletes in such a quandary.

 

[skatingguy]

Not true. East Germany, China, and I don't know who else, were never punished despite a lot of state sponsored cheating and winning medals.

As has been pointed out several times, East German doping did not come to light until after the country no longer existed. Those medals stand because the statue of limitations had passed, but they are tainted victories. The Chinese had a doping program in the '90's and many athletes tested positive but the evidence and the testing were insufficient to prove that it was state sponsored. In addition, neither East Germany or China have ever taken steps to actively prevent athletes from testing positive by swapping or manipulating samples while hosing an Olympics games.

From what I am reading, it sounds like the IOC has some special tests to determine 'clean' for only Russian athletes, and only the IOC gets to decide who from Russia will get to compete. The tests should be same for all countries. From what's written here, it doesn't sound that way.

It seems that the Russians will be subject to additional out of competition testing because of the suspicion that has fallen upon the country. The extent of the doping program, the number of Russian athletes who have tested positive, and the continued denial of the Russian government warrant this suspicion.

 

[Ka3sha]

He did address neutrality directly. He said total humiliation.

He didn't. At least not yet.
Peskov (Putin's Press Secretary and Navka's husband) said just two days ago that Russia won't taboo the Games
http://tass.ru/sport/4782081

 

[levineismine]

I remain curious about what will happen to Russian judges on the skating panels.

Wondering the same. What happens to skating coaches and other non skating team members?

 

[caseyedwards]

He didn't. At least not yet.
Peskov (Putin's Press Secretary and Navka's husband) said just two days ago that Russia won't taboo the Games
http://tass.ru/sport/4782081

http://m.novinite.com/articles/1844...pic+Problems+as+"Humiliation+for+the+Country"

Putin statements.

 

[Vash01]

Wondering the same. What happens to skating coaches and other non skating team members?

If they allow the athletes, they will allow their coaches, using simple logic. However, they may not allow the judges, since they are like officials. I am speculating of course.

 

[WildRose]

I hate the Olympics. They are always used as a political weapon. The USA and USSR were the worst, in destroying dreams of their own young men and women. I am afraid that Putin belongs to the same class.
If they do get to compete, I hope the Russian ladies will sweep the podium.

Maybe they should just ban everyone else - that way Russia can be guaranteed to win all the medals in every sport.

 

[acraven]

I think that, except for the unspecified length of suspension applied to the Russian Olympic Committee, this result is the best Russia could have hoped for. The athletes will be able to participate, and even the name under which they will compete, "Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)", seems carefully chosen to include "Russia". I don't know what Putin will do, but if he doesn't grab what is being offered, I'm going to view it as placing political posturing above the welfare of his athletes.

 

[kwanfan1818]

It's been a long time, but I didn't remember that Rodchenkov wasn't the one who broke open the story. According one of The Curling News tweets:

9/ Two Russian whistleblowers eventually revealed the scheme to Germany’s ZDF TV network, prompting the McLaren investigation, which was aided by a second Russian whistleblower – the former head of the Moscow and Sochi laboratories, now living in protective custody in the U.S.
​

(Counting is not their strong point )

 

[bardtoob]

Title: Russia Banned From Winter Olympics by I.O.C.

. . .
(Apparently, this is an over the top sensationalist title, but there it is.)

[Russian] officials are forbidden to attend, its flag will not be displayed at the opening ceremony and its anthem will not sound. Any athletes from Russia who receive special dispensation to compete will do so as individuals wearing a neutral uniform, and the official record books will forever show that Russia won zero medals."

1) [Russian] officials are forbidden to attend
2) flag will not be displayed
3) its anthem will not sound
4) Any athletes from Russia who receive special dispensation to compete will do so as individuals wearing a neutral uniform
5) official record books will forever show that Russia won zero medals

 

[casken]

To invite individual Russian athletes to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 according to the following guidelines:

• The invitation list will be determined, at its absolute discretion, by a panel chaired by Valerie Fourneyron, Chair of the ITA. The panel will include members of the Pre-Games Testing Task Force: one appointed by WADA, one by the DFSU and one by the IOC, Dr Richard Budgett.
  
  
• 1. Athletes must be considered clean to the satisfaction of this panel:
     • Athletes must not have been disqualified or declared ineligible for any Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Does this include people who were disqualified, but later cleared aka Bobrova?

 

[honey]

Judges spots are drawn based on country, so I guess it's up to the IOC (and maybe the ISU too) to determine if "Olympic judge from Russia" can be a thing. My guess is they will probably be there. Were there "Unified" judges at the 92 Olys?

Yes, there were “unified” team judges in 92.

 

[barbarafan]

All athletes who were competing in Sochi can not take part in the 2018 Olympics...

So that means that we won't see Stolbova/Klimov, Bobrova/Soloviev, Sinitsina/Katsalapov competing even under neutral flag.
Won't discuss the entire decision, but at least this is unfair.

Where did you see that? I am only seeing coaches and doctors of athletes who have been convicted of doping in Sochi cannot attend the games...Ie if it was a skier.....and now his coach is coaching 6 athletes who want to compete in 2018 he cannot attend the games but the athletes could.

 

[SamuraiK]

Russia Banned From Winter Olympics by I.O.C.

. . .

No sensationalist tiltes that only lead to confussion. Russian athlets can stilll participate.

 

[Rock2]

I wonder also how economics works for the athletes. In a normal situation doesn't the country's Olympic committee pay most of the travel and other bills?(not sure about coaches).

If RUS doesn't get an official team, would funding still be available and how might that impact athletes....?

 

[bardtoob]

No sensationalist tiltes that only lead to confussion. Russian athlets can stilll participate.

Sorry. Did not know it was sensationalist.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Wondering the same. What happens to skating coaches and other non skating team members?

I thought Bach said all Russian officials would be removed judging panels.

 

[caseyedwards]

I think that, except for the unspecified length of suspension applied to the Russian Olympic Committee, this result is the best Russia could have hoped for. The athletes will be able to participate, and even the name under which they will compete, "Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)", seems carefully chosen to include "Russia". I don't know what Putin will do, but if he doesn't grab what is being offered, I'm going to view it as placing political posturing above the welfare of his athletes.

No flag no anthem no nothing! It’s not going to happen. Neutral means no Russians

http://m.novinite.com/articles/1844...pic+Problems+as+"Humiliation+for+the+Country"

 

[kittysk8ts]

Wondering the same. What happens to skating coaches and other non skating team members?

From above:

b) No coach or medical doctor whose athlete has been found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation can be included on the invitation list. All coaches and medical doctors included on the invitation list must sign a declaration to this effect.

 

[becca]

So Medvedeva wins gold then what country does she move to? Never be popular in Russia again.

Why wouldn't she be popular? What did she do wrong? She is still Russian. Blame needs to go the officials who caused this.

 

[skatingguy]

Does this include people who were disqualified, but later cleared aka Bobrova?

WADA granted amnesty to all the athletes who tested positive to Meldonium prior to Mar 1, 2016 because the drug stays in the body for much longer than anyone realized.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/dopi...ada-announces-meldonium-amnesty-idUKL3N17G2SK

 

[WildRose]

This is just a slap on the wrist for show. Putin will complain and then ‘reluctantly’ agree. No doubt he was aware and agreed to it before it was announced. Russian athletes will compete and nothing much will really change. Russia gets away with it again.

 

[Karen-W]

http://m.novinite.com/articles/184457/Putin+Described+Russia's+Olympic+Problems+as+"Humiliation+for+the+Country"

Putin statements.

I think you have to take these previous statements from Putin with a grain of salt since they aren't as recent as his press secretary's comments yesterday. The only thing that might have pissed Putin off today enough to send him back over the edge to refusing to let any Russians compete at all is that the ROC ban is indefinite and could impact future Olympics beyond Pyeongchang. He clearly wanted this ban to be a one-off and he didn't get that at all.

 

[caseyedwards]

Why wouldn't she be popular? What did she do wrong? She is still Russian. Blame needs to go the officials who caused this.

Because she humiliated Russia by competing as neutral and disavowing Russia flag and anthem and denounced her whole country.

 

[MarieM]

This is just a slap on the wrist for show. Putin will complain and then ‘reluctantly’ agree. No doubt he was aware and agreed to it before it was announced. Russian athletes will compete and nothing much will really change. Russia gets away with it again.

Like all the ones who are doping outside of Russia. Is that fair too?
Are you way too naive to think only Russian athletes do dope? Because seeing someone like Gatlin in the OG in Rio didn't make sense considering who they banned.