At 4 o'clock this morning BST, the IOC Executive Board made an announcement to the effect that three individuals appointed by them will have a final say on which Russian athletes can compete at the Rio Olympic Games.
This latest, very last minute twist in the controversy surrounding Russia's participation in the Games, suggests that the IOC has a degree of concern over the likely consistency of decisions taken by the sports' governing bodies to whom they delegated decision making only a few days ago. It is difficult to see how an appointed panel of three individuals will have time to consider the data presented on so many different athletes, but presumably the IOC has felt it needs to confirm at least a veneer of responsibility. The ongoing uncertainty can only be destabilising for Russia's athletes as they attempt to prepare mentally for the competition ahead. While the scale of Russia's wrongdoing in sport is considered by many to be collosal, this is very hard on individual clean athlete.
Never before has sport been so political on the global scale. Past political influence on sport has resulted in Olympic boycotts, protests and the exclusion of whole countries from competition. The difference now is that the IOC is imposing sports measures that could be considered to be directly political. While much focus rests on the question of individual athletes' participation in the Games, the wider picture is that the IOC has taken emergency measures (19th July announcement) to prevent Russia's staging of sporting events:
Meanwhile, the Russian voice and feeling against the IOC is growing. President Vladimir Putin (27th July) could be considered to be leveraging Russia's indignation at the IOC's actions to create stronger emotional support for his leadership amongst his country's citizens and to create a smokescreen to mask his country's wrongdoing.
Reuters also produced a 29th July report on President's Putin's ideas of the the Olympic ban as a political plot.
Athletes, politicians and members of the public have spoken out against the IOC measures and there seems to be little understanding amongst Russians as to the reasons for them. In gymnastics, Russian head coach Valentina Rodionenko has volunteered the opinion that WADA's investigation into Russian sport, and the resulting sanctions, is a result of global political distaste for Russia's military involvement in Ukraine and Crimea. Andrei Rodionenko has kept the argument closer to the sporting home, pointing out that WADA has too much power. He believes that Russian has been unfairly treated:
It also seems likely that Russia's concept of sports medicine is different to that held by many of us in the West - or is it? No other sports system has come under such close scrutiny. Skating coach Rafael Aratunyan has spoken of a different culture of drug use in Russian sport. Aliya Mustafina has said quite openly that she was 'given' meldonium from the age of ten. The drug was legal at the time, but legality does not tell the whole story of the ethical and sporting assumptions involved in this action.
A valid criticism of the way that WADA and the IOC have handled Russia's affairs is their sole focus on Russia to the exclusion of other countries. Russian state interference in sport is characterised as undesirable, but then all governments use sport to an extent in their PR, tourism and social policy. Orchestrating widespread cheating is taking things too far, but without full and equal investigation, who can say what goes on elsewhere? Given the limitations of WADA's research and methodology, the weakness of the IOC response to it, and the highly politicised, Putin-fuelled coverage given to it by the Russian media, it is hardly surprising that Russia considers the actions to be strongly biassed against them and the sanctions to be disproportionate in severity. We too, in the West, should remember that our perceptions and understanding are influenced by our own biasses, prejudices and media and that there are always (at least) two sides to every situation.
The artistic gymnastics competition gets underway next Saturday, on the morning following the Olympics opening ceremony. Russia's artistic gymnastics team will therefore be amongst the first to be vetted by the IOC's panel of three. Hopefully, if the team are not logging into their social media or watching the TV they will be unaware of this final, last minute hurdle imposed by the IOC. On the face of it, the IOC should merely be rubber stamping the existing cleared athletes, but it remains to be seen how they will see the case of Natalia Kapitonova, Russia's 16 year old reserve who has little in the way of a competitive record (Russian champion on uneven bars and two World Cup competitions, but was she tested?). If things go the wrong way, as Aliya Mustafina said, I wouldn't like to be the person who tells this innocent young girl that she has been sanctioned for the wrongdoings of others. Russia would be sure to use her case as an example of the gross injustice of the blanket bans imposed by the IOC and we could see her face plastered all over the newspapers. Many gymnastics commentators have questioned the position of Nikolai Kuksenkov, Russia's MAG team captain who tested positive for traces of meldonium earlier this year, but following investigations WADA cleared him of any suspicion. RRG therefore considers that Kuksenkov's case is clearcut and that he will be competing in Rio.
So when Kuksenkov leads the Russian team out into the arena he will be amongst the first Russian athletes to be seen at the Games. Both MAG and WAG teams will be under intense scrutiny like never before. Whether this pressure does fire the teams to produce the best performances of which they are capable will not be seen until next week. But it's certain that, once again, gymnastics will headline at the Olympics and Russia will be a huge part of the narrative, for better or for worse. As they are all clean athletes, I would like to wish them the very best of luck.
'Participation of Russian athletes in Rio
The EB decided to delegate the final decision on the acceptance of entries of Russian athletes to a Review Panel composed of three IOC Executive Board Members: Uğur Erdener, Claudia Bokel and Juan Antonio Samaranch. The Review Panel is due to make a final decision in the coming days.'RRG's take on this
This latest, very last minute twist in the controversy surrounding Russia's participation in the Games, suggests that the IOC has a degree of concern over the likely consistency of decisions taken by the sports' governing bodies to whom they delegated decision making only a few days ago. It is difficult to see how an appointed panel of three individuals will have time to consider the data presented on so many different athletes, but presumably the IOC has felt it needs to confirm at least a veneer of responsibility. The ongoing uncertainty can only be destabilising for Russia's athletes as they attempt to prepare mentally for the competition ahead. While the scale of Russia's wrongdoing in sport is considered by many to be collosal, this is very hard on individual clean athlete.
Never before has sport been so political on the global scale. Past political influence on sport has resulted in Olympic boycotts, protests and the exclusion of whole countries from competition. The difference now is that the IOC is imposing sports measures that could be considered to be directly political. While much focus rests on the question of individual athletes' participation in the Games, the wider picture is that the IOC has taken emergency measures (19th July announcement) to prevent Russia's staging of sporting events:
'The IOC will not organise or give patronage to any sports event or meeting in Russia. This includes plans for the European Games 2019 organised by the European Olympic Committees (EOC).'Such sanctions could be considered to be large scale economic penalties against the Russian Federation. Russia's tourism strategy is linked to its staging of sporting events and involves billions of roubles invested in new stadiums and infrastructure. Its plans to develop its tourism industry and visitor economy rests in part on the staging of such mega events as the European Games. The country's economic development and potential will be hit by these IOC sanctions if carried through.
'Because of the detailed references to the manipulation of samples during the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 the IOC asks all International Olympic Winter Sports Federations to freeze their preparations for major events in Russia, such as World Championships, World Cups or other major international competitions under their responsibility, and to actively look for alternative organisers.'
Meanwhile, the Russian voice and feeling against the IOC is growing. President Vladimir Putin (27th July) could be considered to be leveraging Russia's indignation at the IOC's actions to create stronger emotional support for his leadership amongst his country's citizens and to create a smokescreen to mask his country's wrongdoing.
 |
| Summary of President Putin's 27th July statement |
Reuters also produced a 29th July report on President's Putin's ideas of the the Olympic ban as a political plot.
Athletes, politicians and members of the public have spoken out against the IOC measures and there seems to be little understanding amongst Russians as to the reasons for them. In gymnastics, Russian head coach Valentina Rodionenko has volunteered the opinion that WADA's investigation into Russian sport, and the resulting sanctions, is a result of global political distaste for Russia's military involvement in Ukraine and Crimea. Andrei Rodionenko has kept the argument closer to the sporting home, pointing out that WADA has too much power. He believes that Russian has been unfairly treated:
'Russian lawyers and representatives who went to the CAS hearing weren’t really heard, no one cared what they had to say, everything was already decided before the hearing'Russian athletics has staged its own local competition for its excluded athletes, prompting outbursts from high profile athletes such as Elena Isinbayeva:
'We ran into such injustice when they took away the Olympic Games from us, but, as I said yesterday, it will only make us stronger'This theme of growing strength in the face of adversity is echoed from within the gymnastics community as Valentina Rodionenko and Aliya Mustafina point out collective and individual motivation that develops from such adversity.
'We are going to fight, because Russian people only get stronger facing hardship' (Valentina Rodionenko)
Russian defiance against the sporting measures is hardening as time passes, and the Russian public voice is beginning to link the Olympics with what they see as other high profile 'smears' against their state such as email hacking. 71% of Russians think that WADA's evidence of state-sponsored doping is not convincing; 55% think that the accusations are groundless and are part of a 'political hit job' against Russia; 83% disapprove of Russia's banning from the Games. Commentators blame state TV, the main political fodder of the wider public, for fuelling the Russian population's misunderstandings about the doping controversy. There is the suggestion that Cold War is more active now than it was during the time of the Soviet Union.'I would be personally hurt if the entire Russian team were banned, and would want to see the faces of those who did it. But I will not be broken; I would be more hurt for our young girls who have not yet participated in the Olympics. They are like children for me. I remember how I prepared for my first Olympics, what I felt and the hopes I had.' (Aliya Mustafina)
It also seems likely that Russia's concept of sports medicine is different to that held by many of us in the West - or is it? No other sports system has come under such close scrutiny. Skating coach Rafael Aratunyan has spoken of a different culture of drug use in Russian sport. Aliya Mustafina has said quite openly that she was 'given' meldonium from the age of ten. The drug was legal at the time, but legality does not tell the whole story of the ethical and sporting assumptions involved in this action.
A valid criticism of the way that WADA and the IOC have handled Russia's affairs is their sole focus on Russia to the exclusion of other countries. Russian state interference in sport is characterised as undesirable, but then all governments use sport to an extent in their PR, tourism and social policy. Orchestrating widespread cheating is taking things too far, but without full and equal investigation, who can say what goes on elsewhere? Given the limitations of WADA's research and methodology, the weakness of the IOC response to it, and the highly politicised, Putin-fuelled coverage given to it by the Russian media, it is hardly surprising that Russia considers the actions to be strongly biassed against them and the sanctions to be disproportionate in severity. We too, in the West, should remember that our perceptions and understanding are influenced by our own biasses, prejudices and media and that there are always (at least) two sides to every situation.
The artistic gymnastics competition gets underway next Saturday, on the morning following the Olympics opening ceremony. Russia's artistic gymnastics team will therefore be amongst the first to be vetted by the IOC's panel of three. Hopefully, if the team are not logging into their social media or watching the TV they will be unaware of this final, last minute hurdle imposed by the IOC. On the face of it, the IOC should merely be rubber stamping the existing cleared athletes, but it remains to be seen how they will see the case of Natalia Kapitonova, Russia's 16 year old reserve who has little in the way of a competitive record (Russian champion on uneven bars and two World Cup competitions, but was she tested?). If things go the wrong way, as Aliya Mustafina said, I wouldn't like to be the person who tells this innocent young girl that she has been sanctioned for the wrongdoings of others. Russia would be sure to use her case as an example of the gross injustice of the blanket bans imposed by the IOC and we could see her face plastered all over the newspapers. Many gymnastics commentators have questioned the position of Nikolai Kuksenkov, Russia's MAG team captain who tested positive for traces of meldonium earlier this year, but following investigations WADA cleared him of any suspicion. RRG therefore considers that Kuksenkov's case is clearcut and that he will be competing in Rio.
So when Kuksenkov leads the Russian team out into the arena he will be amongst the first Russian athletes to be seen at the Games. Both MAG and WAG teams will be under intense scrutiny like never before. Whether this pressure does fire the teams to produce the best performances of which they are capable will not be seen until next week. But it's certain that, once again, gymnastics will headline at the Olympics and Russia will be a huge part of the narrative, for better or for worse. As they are all clean athletes, I would like to wish them the very best of luck.
Honestly, this is becoming ridiculous. Sounds like IOC regret of let the federations take the final decision and now, out of nothing says it has the final word. It's so sad that IOC doesn't care with the athletes who are already in the village and it's horrible to imagine IOC would dare to say everyone go home less than a week before the Games start. I suppose IOC is under pressure to keep punishing Russia untill its delegation is reduced to a dozen of athletes. It's disgusting.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/cbrennansports/status/757392509962190850
ReplyDeleteDoping is cheating! No further excuse!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36894519
http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36887787
Cheating is cheating and doping is doping, but if every country were treated in the same way as Russia, there would be nobody left to compete at the Olympics. Banning demonstrably clean athletes is unfair.
DeleteRussia has been corrupted in sport field for a long time! It's not the first time. The issue is that Bach and Putin is on the same side! Russia is the one who played politics!!
DeleteIf you are a athlete and were going to compete with those doping ones in Sochi, you would not think the same way!! Doping is sure cheating!!
Deleteand what if you are a clean and innocent Russian athlete and you have not committed any wrongdoing, will you feel OK with that ban on you?
Deletewe know that the Russian athletes who compete this Olympics will go under more scrutiny than anybody else, so what's the problem here?
and I wanna ask a question here, what about sports where doping is useless like equestrian (unless you give it to the horse!!), shooting, Archery is this ban justified here.
Doping is wrong and unfair but so also collective punishment.
John
I can see both sides of the argument, but I am leaning towards the side that does not ban innocent athletes.
DeleteI can see why many WADA agencies were calling for a total ban. It would send the most absolute strongest message to Russia to stop their state-run doping system. (I believe there is enough evidence to support the state-run accusation)
The IOC tried to send Russia a strong message without banning the entire team of athletes. (IOC stopped working on the European Games, suggested to all sporting federations that they also halt all world championships and world cups in Russia. The IOC also reversed the burden of proof making each federation prove clean athletes from Russia were competing). Some felt this was not a strong enough message.
The IOC also stated in their initial decision that the list of athletes would need to be approved by CAS and also by IOC, so this panel of 3 IOC members should not be a shock, it is just what they stated they would do.
Todd
Elizabeth, I get the feeling from reading this that you do not believe this (Olympic ban etc) to be (part of) a political plot against Russia. In this I completely disagree with you. I do not find that there is little understanding of the reasons behind the IOC measures among Russians. On the contrary I think they see very clearly - much more clearly than we in the West do - that these are part of a concerted campaign against Russia. As I have pointed out in previous posts here and elsewhere, the case for state run doping in Russia has NOT been proven. It has been alleged. That is all. The witnesses who support the allegations are - for the little we know of them - dubious in their veracity. I am not suggesting that there is no doping problem in Russia. Clearly there is and when the Russians were told to clean up their act last year, they just as clearly started to do so. Instead of supporting their measures with understanding and help, the international community turned on them (yet again). Banning clean athletes from the Games is not only unfair it is truly absurd as a measure to clean up the sport. Any athlete anywhere (but especially in Russia) contemplating whether to dope or not to dope is getting the message - it doesn't matter whether you dope or not, what matters is which country you represent.
ReplyDeleteI do understand that with the constant barrage of anti-Russian and anti-Putin propaganda in Western media at the moment it is truly difficult to maintain a level-headed, common-sense approach to any issue involving Russia. But to be perfectly frank, Putin does not need situations like this to bolster his support among his people. He already had an enviably high level of support, with no need of bolstering. This is mostly due to the fact that whether they like him or not, whether they agree with him or not, he has always done what is best for his people and he talks straight (imagine if we could say that about our leaders!). He understands what Russians feel and is truly a voice of the people. If you look at the extract of his statement above it only reflects this.
When reading about Russia it is necessary to look beyond the fact-twisting and spin in articles written by Western journalists.
An interesting thought experiment is - just assume Putin is not Evil Incarnate and Russia is not aggressive but means well and wants to be an accepted, equal member of the world community. Then admit to yourself that Russia has been law-abiding (yes - even Crimea was legit according to international legal precedent (Kosovo)) and extremely flexible and generous in trying to keep up with the whims and demands of the West.
With that mind-set in place, reconsider the stories in the press eg regarding the Olympic ban and see if you don't also begin to see it as part of the political war on Russia.
Then if you must, go back to considering Russia/Putin the Source of All Evil.
For me, there are few certainties. Yes, there is another view of this phenomenon and it could include the idea that the West is victimising Russia. But it is difficult to reconcile the way that our two cultures see each other. As I have said in previous posts I consider the methodology of the McLaren report to be weak. At the same time, there is credible evidence to support state involvement in the doping problem.
DeleteThe certainties for me? (1). There is significant uncertainty surrounding the McLaren report findings. More time needed to be taken to examine the data thoroughly and to collect and analyse triangulating data of different types and from different sources.
(2). You cannot offer justice while suspending the presumption of innocence and assuming collective responsibility. It is wrong to penalise individual, demonstrably clean athletes for the misdemeanours of just some.
Do not deny! Hard evidence is everywhere!!
DeleteI just wonder if you are athlete from countries not Russia, how do u think to compete against doping ones in such big competition such as Olympic?
http://www.theskatinglesson.com/tsl/cultural-differences-rafael-arutyunyan-on-the-russian-doping-scandal
Elizabeth, I think your second point says it all. Even if it were (or is in the future) proven that there is state involvement in doping in Russia, this is still not the way to deal with it. Presuming guilt and punishing the innocent along with the guilty does not fit in with Western values/human rights etc. This is a terrible precedent to set and is doing so much probably irreversible damage to sport. Testing every Russian participant at every stage of the Olympics (while the allegations are believed even if not yet proven) and withholding future international events from Russia (if the allegations are proven - after Russia has been given a chance to defend itself) are much more adequate ways to deal with the situation.
DeleteNow you have a situation where proven cheaters (ie athletes who have doped in the past and sat out their punishment) are allowed to compete but athletes against whom there is no evidence whatsoever of doping are not being allowed to compete.
This just shouldn't happen.
A very good read, with some more background to the IOC's latest decision - http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/31/anti-doping-organisations-ioc-politics-business-clean-sport-13-national-russia?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
ReplyDeletehttp://olympics.cbc.ca/news/article/wada-president-says-russian-doping-revelations-needed-released.html
DeleteIt has become clear to me that the WADA and IOC is targeting Russia at the moment. For one, the head members that are banning mostly clean athletes are from Great Britain, Canada and the United States, three western cultures, and the countries who will benefit most from their ban with the exception of China. There is a doping problem in Russia, but there is also problems with doping existing in the USA as well. Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin have had multiple doping bans, some of their relay athletes have had doping warnings held against them, Michael Phelps have had several DUIs imposed against him thorghout his career; this mandates a 2 year ban yet he was only made to serve 1. Their cycling athletes have had warning and violations dropped against them. Yet the USA is not serving or receiving any threats or blanket bans in the manner that Russia has. It seems that the majority of athletes and people outside of Russia don't really care or are even relieved by their absence, but if Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, Alyson Felix, Chaunte Lowe or Christian Taylor were missing the Olympics because of the wrongdoing of their teammates there would be riots and protests being flung like nobody's business. The Russian Track& Field teams appeal was rejected eventhough they only submitted the names of athletes who had never served a single ban or violation, had spent the last 8 months being constantly tested and retested for banned substances, all tests that have came back negative, have had training times interrupted to be investigated and prodded at, yet still were told that despite all of their hard work, their integrity and the fact that they were clean that they would miss the olympics, based off the assumption that if their teammates doped, that means that they did as well. They jumped to conclusions, acted hastily and corrupted the line between sport and justice; and as always the only ones serving the consequence is the athletes. And now they still won't leave the other athletes alone. It's disgusting, corrupt and wrong and I feel deeply sorry for the clean athletes who's dreams have been shattered, and will have to train for another four years to see if they will receive fair treatment the next time around. And Im not Russian, so I'm not biased on nationalistic grounds. Greetings from America.
ReplyDelete