Rio 2016
Mutko: “the decision in the interest of the sport”
Russia is allowed to start at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The IOC decides against collective punishment as a result of the state-doping. The reactions are summarized:
Of the missed opportunities of the many officials and athletes speak shortly after the announcement of the
Decision of the IOC for the admission of Russia at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The responsibility is simply to the respective world associations made. “The IOC had a Chance to make a Statement,” said Richard Pound, a former head of the Anti-Doping Agency WADA. This had been wasted by the decision of the IOC “of the”. With sharp criticism, he continued: “Bach (Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, note. d. Red.) and the IOC have a zero tolerance to Doping, unless it’s about Russia”.
A “basis for a Complete exclusion of Russia” was actually Clemens Prokop, President of the German athletics Federation in the light of the CAS ruling. For him, the decision is not comprehensible, therefore: “I think the decision is problematic, here the impression is that political considerations have later been weighted as the question of the credibility of the sport.” He asks, as a “type of state of doping between involved and non-involved athletes to be credible can be differentiated”. In addition, the IOC have missed with the lack of start right for Julia Stepanova is a “great opportunity to put a sign in the fight against Doping.”
Hard, consistent and foreseeable
Alfons Hörmann, President of the German Olympic sports Confederation, tried it on, the diplomatic language of The IOC had taken “without a doubt, difficult, hard, and, in several respects, consistent decision-making.” Finally, the “first General exclusion of all from the state of doping affected the athletes of the national Teams will show that the zero tolerance policy shall also apply in the future in the world.” For him, it was crucial that “from the present Situation, the right Lessons will be learned”. Hörmann further spoke of a “new beginning in the fight against Doping”, should this succeed.
Already the decision had been apart, however, the President of the world table tennis Association Thomas Weikert: “The IOC has made of me expected decision. I would have liked to see, however, that the IOC itself would have taken this question on more responsibility.”
Relief in Russia
Russia’s sports Minister Vitaly Mutko seemed relieved and confident at the same time: “I’m sure that the majority of eligible Russian athletes will compete in Rio. I’m to the IOC for the decision to be grateful.” In his opinion this was a decision for the Sport: “I think that this decision was made in the interest of international sport.”
Isinbayeva: “Stepanova should be locked for life”
Also Yelena Isinbayeva, two-time pole vault Olympic champion, is pleased about the authorisation for the Olympics. “A complete exclusion of the Russian team would have been a huge sports scandal. The IOC has fortunately understood, it can allow at the Moment any scandal,” said the 34-Year-old. Harsh words she found, meanwhile, for Whistleblower Julia Stepanova, who is not allowed to start: “you should be locked up for life. I understand the excitement of a person who has doped, and has not been punished. To make her a heroine, is like a slap in the face.”
Expert stunned: “disgusting, setup”
From expert circles, the voices are clear and sharp. “Completely failed” to have the IOC and Thomas Bach, according to Doping expert Fritz Sörgel. He chose clear words: “This is a disgusting setup. The fact alone that Russian sports officials are satisfied with the decision, is a strong sign that gemauschelt.”
For him, this decision-making calculus: “no one believes, however, that the IOC has not agreed in advance with the associations. The Olympic idea has taken a lot of damage. The IOC would finally be able to make an example of them, but it was never intended seriously.” The start ban for Yulia Stepanova is also, for him, incomprehensible: “It would have been an important symbolic gesture, to let them compete. But since you did, rather, before the Russian System a curtsy.”
NADA: “fatal Signal”
Also, the National Anti Doping Agency NADA responded disappointed: “The NADA has wanted a clear Signal for clean Sport, to materialize. The decision unfortunately leaves open many questions, and weakens as a result, the Anti-Doping System.” To transfer the examination and assessment of individual cases at the international trade associations, holds the NADA for “is wrong. There are no uniform rules for a uniform and professional approach of the international organizations. This leads to a different approach to the sports. This is a fatal Signal.”
Similarly disappointed by the decision, Joseph de Pencier, Chairman of the Federation of 59 national Anti-Doping agencies (iNADO). “It is a sad day for clean Sport,” said of the Canadians: “The IOC has ignored the call of the ungedopten athletes, a variety of athletes, organizations, and the leading National Anti-Doping Committee. It is everything other than the character for Fair Play as the core idea of the Olympic idea, which would have been necessary.”
kb/og (sid/dpa)