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Athletics was thrown into turmoil in July 2015 after German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain alleged that blood doping was rampant, citing test results from an International Association of Athletics Federations database that were leaked by a whistleblower. In November, the scandal intensified, as a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation alleged that Russia had systematically covered up doping, and even blackmailed athletes who tested positive, with the support of IAAF chief Lamine Diack
‘Trump is not bluffing,’ said a China specialist at the Centre of Strategic and International Studies. ‘The question is no longer if, but when’
Athletics chief Sebastian Coe gives up role with Nike in bid to fend off conflict-of-interest claims
IOC president Thomas Bach said yesterday he was confident Russia would enact the necessary anti-doping reforms in time for its track and field athletes to be cleared to compete in next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Calling it a wake-up call for a sport in a “shameful” position, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said Russia will be banned from next year’s Olympics unless it convinces the world it has cleaned up its act on doping.
An anti-doping commission report alleging corruption, cover-ups, extortion, bribery and systematic use of drugs in international-level athletics furthers the impression that all sport is corrupt.
Russia, accused of state-sponsored doping, have said they are ready to establish a new anti-doping agency hours before world athletics chiefs meet, with exclusion from the 2016 Olympics a potential long-term consequence for Moscow.
Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia must “do everything” to eradicate doping, ordering an inquiry into allegations of major drug abuse in athletics that have left the country facing international isolation.
