From Russia with love [#28]: Autumn to Winter 2017

[Tinami Amori]

We keep forgetting it works exactly the other way around: all the Russians are banned, unless they are invited. So the party who throws the party didn't feel like seeing Stolbova or Bukin - perhaps they didn't like her haircut or his music. They don't have to give explanations or be demanded to invite anyone.
More than that, I expect some athletes to be un-invited after they got an invite.
Just because mua ha ha, IOC is mighty and it can.

Russia is also mighty and can do a lot of things because mua haha, it just can.... like not let in a tourist with valid passport/visa through passport control, since tourist is a privilege and not a right...

 

[Minou]

He was not in Sochi (there is no T in Sochi) but someone said he was on medication for his epilepsy. This is so ridiculous! Athletes are not allowed Any medicine for even real medical problems? In this modern age they should be able to make a differentiation between PED and medicines taken to treat a medical condition.

This is devastating. I think they wanted to devastate the Russian athletes.

Stolbova's disqualification is puzzling also. Why did it take them four years to make that decision? Why punish the athlete who had not doped? S&K has to be the unluckiest pair ever. I dont see them coming back next season. What a shame!

I really hope arbitration is an option for these athletes. I hate the IOC and WADA.

In French-Cyrillic transliterations, "Sotchi" is correct...

 

[seabm7]

So if S&B are disqualified... does this mean S&K (dance) will replace them?

And if S&K (pairs) are disqualified, will A&R make the Olympic team?!

S&K (dance) is off the season due to an injury.

 

[Cachoo]

S&B have to feel like they are in a nightmarish Kafka novel where you stand accused and have no idea what exactly you did to be accused. There has to be a mistake. Do they have any way to fight this?

 

[Vash01]

In French-Cyrillic transliterations, "Sotchi" is correct...

In Russian it is written as Sochi, as we saw hundreds of times during the 2014 Olympics.

 

[hanca]

In Russian it is written as Sochi, as we saw hundreds of times during the 2014 Olympics.

Why on earth would you correct people that they have to use different language for the names of cities? Are you also using Moskva instead of Moscow and Praha instead of Prague, or is it just Sochi?

 

[SmallFairy]

In Russian it is written as Sochi, as we saw hundreds of times during the 2014 Olympics.

Well, but as Minou explained, she's not writing Russian, but the French-Cyrillic transliterations....

 

[Amantide]

Olympics are officially ruined for me. I simply do not care anymore.

 

[Frau Muller]

No Zagorski/Guerreiro. And yes for A&R.

Why not Z/G? Is Tiffany not yet a Russian citizen?

 

[Anyasnake]

Why not Z/G? Is Tiffany not yet a Russian citizen?

No, I meant that it would not be S/K going BUT Z/G will go (I sould have added a coma after the "No", haha).

 

[Amantide]

No, I meant that it would not be S/K going BUT Z/G will go (I sould have added a coma after the "No", haha).

The only good thing in all this mess. I m very happy for Z&G.

 

[Bigbird]

The only good thing in all this mess. I m very happy for Z&G.

Remember, that just because the reasons haven't been publicized doesn't mean that the athletes are not aware or haven't been informed of the reasons for their non-inclusion. As fans, there are some things we may not be privy to now until the athletes mount their defence. All will be made more clear, by this coming Monday.

 

[Amantide]

Remember, that just because the reasons haven't been publicized doesn't mean that the athletes are not aware or haven't been informed of the reasons for their non-inclusion. As fans, there are some things we may not be privy to now until the athletes mount their defence. All will be made more clear, by this coming Monday.

Sure but regardless, the whole thing has been managed so poorly that I'm completely put off at this point.
Whatever the case may be, that communiqué part which states: "The non inclusion in the list of invitees to the Games does not necessarily mean that the athlete was caught in the use of doping." it is so ridiculous, so unfair, so assholery that I just can't.

 

[Vash01]

Well, but as Minou explained, she's not writing Russian, but the French-Cyrillic transliterations....

I had initially responded to MarieM's post and I don't think she is French.

 

[Finnice]

I had initially responded to MarieM's post and I don't think she is French.

She is.

ETA about translitteration: There is a Finnish newspaper, who writes Plushenko's name in a very complicated way, IIRC Pliustshenko or something like that. There is never just one way on translitterating.

 

[ChelleC]

I had initially responded to MarieM's post and I don't think she is French.

I'm fairly certain MarieM is French.

 

[Vash01]

Sure but regardless, the whole thing has been managed so poorly that I'm completely put off at this point.
Whatever the case may be, that communiqué part which states: "The non inclusion in the list of invitees to the Games does not necessarily mean that the athlete was caught in the use of doping." it is so ridiculous, so unfair, so assholery that I just can't.

I am thoroughly disgusted. They did not explain why certain athletes are not invited and they don't even say it has to do with doping. They are disqualifying these innocent athletes merely on IOC's whim? I wish someone would sue them. This kind of treatment is unacceptable IMO.

 

[Vash01]

She is.

Ok. I didn't know that. Why did I think she was Australian? I must have confused her with someone else.

 

[Vash01]

Why on earth would you correct people that they have to use different language for the names of cities? Are you also using Moskva instead of Moscow and Praha instead of Prague, or is it just Sochi?

Only Sochi. That's what we are talking about.

 

[Amantide]

They did not explainwhy certain athletes are not invited and they don't even say it has to do with doping.

No, they are saying it doesn't necessarily means it has to be doping involved. Which is worse, IMO.
So, if I didn't like Bukin's hair cut or Ksenia's outfit, for example. And I was to be in that position of power, I might not invite them. Periods! *Shrugs*.
Am I right or am I right?!

 

[Vash01]

No, they are saying it doesn't necessarily means it has to be doping involved. Which is worse, IMO.
So, if I didn't like Bukin's hair cut or Ksenia's outfit, for example. And I was to be in that position of power, I might not invite him. Periods! *Shrugs*.

These guys/gals are total jerks. Unfortunately the US media won't try to expose them. Now the focus of our media will be on "Russian skaters are not here; they were not invited...." The focus will be on their nationality and not on the unfairness that was done to them. It's like if they are Russian, they must have done something wrong. Where are the athletes' rights? Do they have any? I don't think the IOC would dare do this to even one skater from the USA. They would have been sued for several millions. I feel so awful for Bukin and Ksenia! She at least has a couple of Olympic medals. Someone as young as Ivan may feel so discouraged! Will he even want to continue?

 

[Tinami Amori]

No, they are saying it doesn't necessarily means it has to be doping involved. Which is worse, IMO.
So, if I didn't like Bukin's hair cut or Ksenia's outfit, for example. And I was to be in that position of power, I might not invite them. Periods! *Shrugs*.
Am I right or am I right?!

Let's not get dramatic..... criteria all relate to testing/doping, both medical and procedural/administrative. the only problem is that athletes, while clean, had no control over procedural/administrative (which is handled by other people but affects the athletes).

 

[Amantide]

Let's not get dramatic..... criteria all relate to testing/doping, both medical and procedural/administrative. the only problem is that athletes, while clean, had no control over procedural/administrative (which is handled by other people but affects the athletes).

Their statement is dramatic, stupidly so. Mine is called sarcasm.
And if the athletes are clean and didn't break the rules, those are the only criteria that should matter. Everything else is bullshite!

 

[rfisher]

I had initially responded to MarieM's post and I don't think she is French.

She's very much French.

 

[Carolla5501]

I am not sure why the assumption is "they don't know" and "we have the right to know". I don't think either is absolutely true.

I also think if this was what posters want to believe they would be disqualifying people who are much more likely to medal than those not attending.

 

[MarieM]

She's very much French.

Oh yeah. LOL. Australian or something
I am a grumpy french.

 

[skatingguy]

There's no fundamental right to compete at the Winter Olympics and ultimately competing at the Olympics is at the discretion of the IOC. It's their event, and they control who is invited. Normally that is done by inviting a country, but when the county is suspended the IOC can invite who they want to the games.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Their statement is dramatic, stupidly so. Mine is called sarcasm.
And if the athletes are clean that is the only criteria that should matter. Everything else is bullshite!

well, i agree with you.. but some people may get the impression the criteria is absolutely subjective if we mention "hair cuts"....

 

[Amantide]

I am not sure why the assumption is "they don't know" and "we have the right to know". I don't think either is absolutely true.

Who are "they" and "we"? You mean the athletes or the fans?

well, i agree with you.. but some people may get the impression the criteria is absolutely subjective if we mention "hair cuts"....

Well, I admit I'm feeling a bit stupid reading about this mess. But I haven't reach that level yet.

 

[Vash01]

There's no fundamental right to compete at the Winter Olympics and ultimately competing at the Olympics is at the discretion of the IOC. It's their event, and they control who is invited. Normally that is done by inviting a country, but when the county is suspended the IOC can invite who they want to the games.

It is still their moral duty to explain why some athletes were invited and others were not, unless there is a clear cut case of doping which is already proven and published. Not giving an explanation should not be acceptable under any circumstances. Athletes may not have a legal right over the IOC (which is abusing its power, IMO) but from purely humanitarian perspective they need to know why they are not allowed to participate. I dont know if arbitration is an option at this point.