No one is going to be banned according to IOC's newest statement

[coralline]

IOC's statement about current war:
The Olympic Truce Resolution is an aspirational and non-binding resolution which the UN Member States agree on for each edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is tabled by the host nation of the Games and is adopted by the UN Member States themselves. The IOC, with its Permanent Observer Status at the UN, has no means of enforcing the implementation of the resolution. We recognise that this is entirely in the remit of the UN system and outside the remit of the IOC.

While Four years ago:
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reiterated today the IOC’s strong condemnation of the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus through its support in this. The respective UN resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 December 2021 by consensus of all 193 UN Member States. The Olympic Truce began seven days before the start of the Olympic Games, on 4 February 2022, and ends seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games.

The IOC EB today urges all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus. They should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority. The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus.

 

[SakuraHere]

IOC is the one to be banned, dismissed, abolished, whatever you call it. A new Olympic organization shall be established. This includes CAS and WADA too.

 

[Wyliefan]

If they had some rationale like "Russia is trying to completely take over and absorb Ukraine into itself, while the U.S. is not doing this with Iran," that would at least be an attempt to make sense. Maybe a crappy attempt, but an attempt.

As it is, they just look hypocritical.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Boo. They should ban us.

 

[Willin]

If they had some rationale like "Russia is trying to completely take over and absorb Ukraine into itself, while the U.S. is not doing this with Iran," that would at least be an attempt to make sense. Maybe a crappy attempt, but an attempt.

As it is, they just look hypocritical.

There's a lot of reasons they could say for why Russia was banned but not the US: the doping scandal (and evidence of more doping), the attempts to absorb Ukraine (and directly attack its sports), the fact that this was the THIRD time in 8 years before they were banned... I think there's a whole host of legitimate reasons Russia is banned and should stay banned.

Without getting into politics, the US doesn't quite have that same resume of excuses. Could our current administration get us there? Not the doping and probably not the attacking/affecting sports in a specific targeted campaign, but the multiple truce violations is within the range of believability.

 

[rfisher]

The IOC just handed the Russians and Belarussians a strong case to demand an end to the ban effective immediately and take this to the international court of arbitration. You cannot go back an make a retroactive case for different reasons than the original ban was implemented. Or ban the US immediately.

 

[tony]

The IOC just handed the Russians and Belarussians a strong case to demand an end to the ban effective immediately and take this to the international court of arbitration. You cannot go back a make a retroactive case for different reasons than the original ban was implemented. Or ban the US immediately.

I think this is likely.

 

[Karen-W]

The IOC just handed the Russians and Belarussians a strong case to demand an end to the ban effective immediately and take this to the international court of arbitration. You cannot go back an make a retroactive case for different reasons than the original ban was implemented. Or ban the US immediately.

No, they didn't. Russia & Belarus have already taken their case to CAS and lost. Just because the IOC isn't willing to take action against the US & Israel this year doesn't mean that suddenly Russia & Belarus can relitigate the case they lost.

As it is, the IOC has already begun the process of slowly lifting the ban - they allowed AINs to compete in both Paris and Milano-Cortina; plus they've already told the IFs that they can start letting juniors back into competition. Coventry has made it clear she's a Putinista and will push the IOC to lift the ban entirely if not by the summer then certainly by next winter at the latest.

 

[MacMadame]

As it is, they just look hypocritical.

Because they are.

They did say Russia was banned because this was the 2nd time they violated the Olympic Truce. Maybe everyone gets 1 strike?

 

[Ice_dance_fan]

Because they are.

They did say Russia was banned because this was the 2nd time they violated the Olympic Truce. Maybe everyone gets 1 strike?

Reality that was 3rd time russia violated the Olympic Truce after 2008. and 2014.

 

[MsZem]

Everyone here who wants the US banned supports the same for Iran, right? What with them now hitting civilian infrastructure in multiple countries across the region that are not directly involved in the current hostilities?

The IOC just handed the Russians and Belarussians a strong case to demand an end to the ban effective immediately and take this to the international court of arbitration. You cannot go back an make a retroactive case for different reasons than the original ban was implemented. Or ban the US immediately.

They can just re-ban them for doping, though, right?

 

[MacMadame]

Reality that was 3rd time russia violated the Olympic Truce after 2008. and 2014.

Okay, 3 strikes and you're out is very common. I'll give them a pass. Sort of.

Everyone here who wants the US banned supports the same for Iran, right? What with them now hitting civilian infrastructure in multiple countries across the region that are not directly involved in the current hostilities?

Sure and Israel too since they were involved in the attack.

They can just re-ban them for doping, though, right?

I don't think they can. I think a ban like that has to come from WADA. The Olympic Charter doesn't have any direct provisions for them to do this.

 

[Karen-W]

They can just re-ban them for doping, though, right?

I don't think they can. I think a ban like that has to come from WADA. The Olympic Charter doesn't have any direct provisions for them to do this.

I think you're correct about this, but also, Russia was, technically, already banned for the Sochi doping scandal and even then CAS wouldn't let the IOC & IFs fully ban them from all participation.

Now, right now, WADA has determined Russia is in non-compliance because of some law passed in the Russian Duma (I can't recall the details but I think it has something to do with not recognizing the authority of WADA to impose sanctions, etc). So, could another ban be imposed if the INC'S ban is lifted? Theoretically, though I'm not sure how well it would hold up when Russia inevitably takes its case to CAS.

 

[Tesla]

The devil is in the details. Did Russia invade Ukraine, with troops on the ground? Did Russia specifically declare war against Ukraine? I am trying to nail down the language Russia used and their actions (aerial assault vs. troops on the ground). Right now, the US just bombed Iran with no intent of invading, and so far, there are no troops on the ground. Yes, the IOC is hypocritical, but again, the devil is in the details.

 

[BlueRidge]

Aren't the details just cover for dealing differently with different countries?

The US was not going to banned.

 

[TAHbKA]

The devil is in the details. Did Russia invade Ukraine, with troops on the ground?

yes

Did Russia specifically declare war against Ukraine?

No. Till today in Russian it is called `a special operation' and if you calling it a war is a criminal offence in Russia.

 

[Karen-W]

yes

No. Till today in Russian it is called `a special operation' and if you calling it a war is a criminal offence in Russia.

The Russian government can call it whatever it wants but they do have troops on the ground in Ukraine and have had them there since the very beginning of the war. Remember those images of their abandoned tanks & armored vehicles on the roads into Kyiv? They are fighting on several fronts of territory that was most definitely deep into Ukrainian sovereign ground - Kherson & Zaporizhia (sp?) Oblasts in particular, plus the utter devastation in Mariupol.

@rfisher is correct in noting that neither the US nor Israel have any troops on the ground in Iran (apart from Mossad or CIA agents). There have been civilian deaths in Iran but not on the scale we saw in Ukraine from the very start of that war.

The real bottom line & major difference between 2022 and now is not who started the war but the European and, to a lesser extent, international response. European response has been tepid & uncertain - some countries have condemned the Iran bombing, others were hesitant but have now offered some, rather lukewarm, support. This is a huge contrast to their reaction in 2022 to Russia invading Ukraine - where we saw fear of future Russian aggression on the eastern flanks of the European Plain & in the Baltics. Europeans considered Russia to be an existential threat & reacted accordingly. They just don't view the situation in Iran in the same way and neither does most of the rest of the world. Even China & Russia have been slow & quiet to come to any aid of Iran.

Those are the reasons why the IOC isn't going to take any action to ban the US or Israel.

 

[BlueRidge]

Those are the reasons why the IOC isn't going to take any action to ban the US or Israel.

I think the Olympic truce was always the technicality for banning Russia but it wasn't the reason. The world does not regard the two situations, Russia invading Ukraine in 2022 and the US/Israel attack in Iran 2026 as at all the same.

 

[rfisher]

The IOC has no business banning one country and not the other for the same thing no matter how one tries to parse the "details" to favor one country over another. Either stay out of geopolitics or treat ALL countries the same. The two statements are diametrically opposed. If the IOC says we have no business banning the US/Israel or Iran, than the ban on Russia and Bellarus is null and void. Perhaps this is the IOC's way of providing the various sport federations to lift the ban. I have no insider information, but given the circumstances and the change in IOC policy, Russia has every right to take this back to CAS. If some organization wants to impose a new ban based on different criteria, that's their call, but given the reasons listed on paper for the original ban, it's a problem for the IOC and the fact they felt the need to issue a new statement indicates they know there is a problem. It is highly unfair to say, well there were other reasons when NONE of those other reasons were listed as being an issue when the ban was initiated. You don't get to do that.

 

[Karen-W]

I think the Olympic truce was always the technicality for banning Russia but it wasn't the reason. The world does not regard the two situations, Russia invading Ukraine in 2022 and the US/Israel attack in Iran 2026 as at all the same.

Right. Russia had trampled all over the concept of fair play and an even playing ground with their "win at all costs" approach that included doping dating back to at least 2008. Then there was the Valieva case and the shitshow that was the Women’s FS meltdown of both Trusova & Valieva, along with Shcherbakova being left abandoned by Russian officials & her coaches while they dealt with the previously mentioned meltdowns. The IOC was looking for a reason to ban them that would stand up to CAS scrutiny & Putin gave it to them.

As it is, I'm a true cynic when it comes to the IOC & especially Kirsty Coventry's leadership. She may have been Bach's toady but she's an African, through & through, and it's become very clear she doesn't favor the Russian ban. I don't know how long it will take for her to strong-arm the rest of the IOC Exec Council into lifting the ban entirely but it will most definitely happen before the qualifying competitions for LA 2028 begin - so, likely by the end of this calendar year or very early in 2027. She may not force the winter sports federations quite as far - she's got a bigger fight over moving summer sports to the Winter Olympics program - but I'm guessing Russia will be back to competing in all sports by the 2027-28 season.

 

[SakuraHere]

The devil is in the details. Did Russia invade Ukraine, with troops on the ground? Did Russia specifically declare war against Ukraine? I am trying to nail down the language Russia used and their actions (aerial assault vs. troops on the ground). Right now, the US just bombed Iran with no intent of invading, and so far, there are no troops on the ground. Yes, the IOC is hypocritical, but again, the devil is in the details.

I wouldn't care if my family was killed or the house was destroyed from the ground by a tank or from the air. What the heck is this argument about. BS.

 

[Kiki5375]

Olympics or even better all sports should be free of politics. For example when Iran and Iraq were at war they still competed peacefully against each other at Olympics. There are so many countries at war or with curel dictators. You cannot bann them all. But you can create a peaceful event where ALL nations come together and behave for at least a few weeks. That's what Olympics is all about.
I do agree on a bann because of doping but even this bann should be lifted after some years. Or maybe bann the coaches and academies who doped these kids. The young athletes who get banned now were still babies when the doping happened. They should not suffer for something that happened years before them. At least not as long as they can prove they are clean.

 

[MacMadame]

I think you're correct about this,

I looked it up before posting.

I do agree on a bann because of doping but even this bann should be lifted after some years.

Even if the banned party is still doping? That's the issue here. Russia is refusing to follow the WADA rules that you have to agree to in order to compete in Olympic sports. Yet their athletes are competing (at the Junior level and at this Olympics).

It's actually pretty outrageous.

 

[Jammers]

If only more sports federations had the balls of the IAAF which governs track and field they haven't allow Russia to compete internationally since 2015 because of doping and the fact that Russia still hasn't gotten their shit together when it comes to testing. Let them be banned forever for all i care.

 

[SakuraHere]

Now, right now, WADA has determined Russia is in non-compliance because of some law passed in the Russian Duma (I can't recall the details but I think it has something to do with not recognizing the authority of WADA to impose sanctions, etc).

If they put WADA authority over the national law, they will have to allow drugs like methylphenidate in the country. It's banned now there. Some star athletes couldn't compete in Tokyo Olympics without that drug. That is what real doping means- when an athlete depends on drug and can't compete without it. Japanese allow methylphenidate in theory but in reality you need papers from God Mighty and all His Apostles to let the drug in the country. Russians could go Japanese way- say Yes but do No. It's just not in their character. They say and do No to
WADA and its drugs.

 

[SakuraHere]

That was their last chance. They could ban USA and Israel or unban Russia and Belarus. In this case they would have some trust to keep their face or what is left of it. Now with this IOC hypocritical statement that chance is gone.
The General Assembly of IPC unbanned Russia and Belarus by voting, winning with a huge majority. IOC doesn't even try to vote because they know they would lose greatly. This makes ban artificial and therefore invalid.
IOC is rotten in politics, bias and double standards. CAS is a kangaroo court that is not looking for truth. WADA is issuing TUE on heavy drugs like flyers and banning cheap over the counter vitamins. They are all corrupt and shall be deleted completely. The whole Olympic movement shall be reset with new organisations, structure, rules, etc.

 

[MacMadame]

If they put WADA authority over the national law, they will have to allow drugs like methylphenidate in the country.

No, they wouldn't. That's not how WADA works. It's not a law. It's an agreement. The agreement lists drugs that are allowed. Allowing is not the same as requiring.

 

[Kiki5375]

I looked it up before posting.


Even if the banned party is still doping? That's the issue here. Russia is refusing to follow the WADA rules that you have to agree to in order to compete in Olympic sports. Yet their athletes are competing (at the Junior level and at this Olympics).

It's actually pretty outrageous.

You should quote all I said. I said "as long as they can prove they are clean" there are tests for ALL athletes at Olympics and I didn't hear anything about a positive test so I assume the AIN athletes play fair and therefore should not be punished for something that happened while they were still babies

 

[her grace]

Four years ago, current Olympians were babies?

 

[Karen-W]

You should quote all I said. I said "as long as they can prove they are clean" there are tests for ALL athletes at Olympics and I didn't hear anything about a positive test so I assume the AIN athletes play fair and therefore should not be punished for something that happened while they were still babies

So, you do realize that most of these Russian women started getting doped up when they were tweens, right? The whole point of how Valieva was being doped was to enable a quicker recovery from intense training & to get them back on the ice faster while they were young enough to build up the muscle memory & retain their jumps when they were finally eligible for junior & senior international competition. And then there are the ones who are taking all sorts of diuretics & other supplements to help them stay unnaturally small & delay puberty. What's more, starting the doping regimen that early also means that when they do enter the WADA system, their biological passport/markers are already set at a certain level which makes detection of continued doping that much more difficult if all they do is maintain whatever level of doping they were at prior to entering the WADA system. They may have been "babies" or, at minimum, tweens, but there needs to be a massive culture change in Russia regarding doping that simply has not happened yet.