Rio 2016: IOC President Advocates For Basic Reform On Drug Cheats

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Sports News Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Following its recurrence as well as management, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has advocated for a fundamental reform on drug cheats in sports.

Presently, over 100 Russian athletes have been banned from this summer’s Games – Rio Olympics sequel to the World Anti-Doping Agency report into state-sponsored doping.

“We need a full review of the Wada anti-doping system.

“The message is quite clear – we want to keep the cheaters away from the Olympic Games.” IOC boss declared.

Mr. Bach advocated: “The IOC is calling for a more robust and efficient anti-doping system.

“This requires clear responsibilities, more transparency, more independence and better worldwide harmonization.”

Sequel to McLaren report into doping in Russia, Wada had recommended all the country’s competitors be excluded from Rio 2016, but the IOC devolved responsibility to individual sport’s federations.

Later, the IOC panel backtracked, saying each Federation would rule on which Russian athletes could take part in the Games.

Over 250 Russians have so far been cleared by their Federations, with weightlifting and athletics the only sports to have imposed a blanket ban on competitors from the country.

Bach described this as “nuclear option” at the Olympic summit saying it would have brought “death and devastation”.

The IOC boss appeared to have developed a thick skin against the torrent and sharp criticism over the body’s decision not to enforce the Wada-recommended blanket ban. Bach added that the IOC decision would send a “positive message” to clean athletes.