‘We’re in trouble’ – former Wada chief Dick Pound lashes IOC response to Russia doping

Pound launches attack at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Gangneung, South Korea, three days before the Pyeongchang Winter Games

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Short track speed skaters of Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) and North Korea practice during a training session prior to the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games. Photo: EPA

Published: 12:46pm, 6 Feb 2018Updated: 3:15pm, 6 Feb 2018

Former world anti-doping chief Dick Pound slammed the Olympic response to the Russian doping scandal on Tuesday, warning “we talk more than we walk” and saying that the Games’ credibility had taken a serious hit.

Pound was speaking at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Gangneung, South Korea, three days before the Pyeongchang Winter Games, which have been engulfed in complications from Russia’s drugs conspiracy.

Pound’s comments were tough enough to prompt a suggestion from the floor that he be silenced, a request which in turn triggered a furious response from the Canadian.

Former world anti-doping chief Dick Pound has slammed the Olympic response to the Russia doping scandal. Photo: AP

The IOC has formally banned Russia from Pyeongchang but has allowed 168 “clean” athletes to take part under a neutral flag and may still allow the Russian flag at the closing ceremony.

This is despite a highly orchestrated plot culminating in Russia’s hosting of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, where tainted samples were switched through a hole in the anti-doping laboratory’s wall.

“I believe that in the collective mind in a significant portion of the world and among the athletes of the world, that the IOC has not only failed to protect clean athletes but has made it possible for cheating athletes to prevail against the clean athletes,” said Pound.

‘We’re in trouble’ – former Wada chief Dick Pound lashes IOC response to Russia doping

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pound launches attack at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Gangneung, South Korea, three days before the Pyeongchang Winter Games

Pound launches attack at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Gangneung, South Korea, three days before the Pyeongchang Winter Games