Disbelief, disappointment and despair was just some of the words used by leading sporting figures on Sunday following the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russia to compete in next month’s Olympic Games.
The country was facing the prospect of an Olympic ban after being hit by two massive doping scandals within the past twelve months. In November 2015 Russia was suspended from athletics competitions after an independent report found widespread state-sponsored doping in the sport. Eight months later, the McLaren report uncovered multiple doping violations conducted in the country during the 2014 Winter Olympics. Positive samples of Russian athletes were destroyed and replaced with fake ones in an operation conducted by the FSB (Russian secret service).
Regardless of their blatant and shocking disregard for the World Anti-Doping policy, Russia will be allowed to represent themselves in Rio. This motion itself is a direct slap in the face for athletes who has called for tougher doping controls. Earlier this year 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer called for comprehensive testing throughout the world.
“I’ve been in Dubai now for 10 years there and been tested once. That’s not okay for me”. The Swiss player stated.
“I get tested more in Switzerland because the guy from Switzerland lives in my village. He comes to see me the day after my surgery, one week later. In Dubai they’ve only come once, the Asia games. In certain countries, maybe the testing is not as serious as in Switzerland. I’d like to see that across the board to be the same way and fair.”
Unlike the two doping scandals, the reputation of Russian tennis has remained in one piece. In both of the reports no tennis player or official were involved in the doping process. Maria Sharapova is currently serving a ban, however, it had nothing to do with her country’s doping ring. In Sharapova’s case, it was her own neglect that brought her career to a halt. It is for this reason why the International Tennis Federation swiftly approved the entry of the Russian tennis team in Rio.
“The eight Russian tennis players who have been nominated to compete in Rio have been subject to a rigorous anti-doping testing programme outside Russia,” a statement said.
“The ITF believes that this is sufficient for the eight Russian tennis players to meet the relevant requirement of today’s decision of the IOC Executive Board.”
The likes of world-class players such as Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ekaterina Makarova playing in the sporting extravaganza is certainly welcome. They have both worked hard throughout their careers to get where there are on the tour now. There is no issue with their presence in Rio, the issue is their country’s sporting body.
It is incomprehensible that the IOC has given the green light for an organisation to play in the event, despite showing the highest level of disrespect to doping controls. The argument is against the culture of Russian sport and not their athletes. A more suitable punishment would have been to ban Russia from the competition, but allow athletes to compete as an independent (subject to tougher doping measures).
This decision is also one that will deter players within the tennis community to speak out on doping in the sport. Yuliya Stepanova, the whistle-blower who helped uncover Russian state-sponsored doping systems, will not be allowed to compete in Rio. She had requested to compete as a natural athlete, but was denied by the IOC. Instead, the committee bizarrely decided to invite her to the event as a fan. An insult to somebody who aided the discovery of one of the biggest doping issues in sporting history. Why would somebody in the world tennis want to follow in the footsteps of Stepanova?
Tennis at the Rio Olympics promises to be one of the most intriguing events with Andy Murray bidding to become the first man to win back-to-back singles titles and Serena Williams targeting a fifth Olympic gold. Nevertheless, the presence of the Russian flag will remind everybody that you can break numerous regulations and still be allowed to play in one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
The example set out by the IOC is one that I will hope will never be followed by tennis bodies. Athletes sacrifice almost everything to achieve their dreams and to be denied their dream by a drugs cheat is an insult to the integrity of sport. All that can be done now is for the ITF, WTA and ATP to learn from the failed efforts of the IOC.
