Australian Olympians back ban on Russia competing at Rio
AUSSIE Olympians have backed a ban on track and field athletes competing under the Russian flag at Rio, as stars gathered at las night’s Prime Minister’s Olympic Dinner in Melbourne.
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PAST and present Aussie Olympians have backed a ban on track and field athletes competing under the Russian flag at the Rio Olympics.
But sporting officials have made it clear this year’s Games will “not be 100 per cent clean” — despite the landmark ruling by the governing body of world athletics.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday night upheld an earlier ban on Russia’s track and field athletes.
Australian Olympic Team chef de mission Kitty Chiller welcomed the decision, but believes Russian competitors in other sports — and potentially those from other nations — will also be drug cheats in Brazil.
“Is it going to be 100 per cent clean in Rio? No, it’s not going to be,” Ms Chiller said.
“There’s evidence and there’s proof of doping in a wide range of sports and it has or hasn’t yet been uncovered that there is a problem to the extent of athletics, we don’t know yet.
“We can’t assume that everybody in every race in Rio will be clean.”
The IAAF decision was also praised by Olympians at last night’s Ninth Prime Minister’s Olympic Dinner at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Thirty-four gold medallists were among the 113 Olympians invited, including Raelene Boyle, Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman, Susie O’Neill, Dawn Fraser and Jared Tallent.
Thorpe, who won five Olympic gold medals, said Russia needed to be sent a strong message.
“It’s obviously a systemic problem rather than just being individual athletes,” Thorpe said.
“I think it’s a shame that we may miss a country at the Games due to the inclusiveness of the Olympics but for the number of tests that have come back (positive), it looks like something that was pretty well organised.
“It may be the only punishment and the only way that Russia gets into line with the rest of the world.”
Swimmer Grant Hackett said he had little sympathy for the Russians.
“Anybody who’s involved in something that enhances your performance wrongfully or participates in drugs in sport or performance enhancing substances, I think they get what they deserve.
“I have no sympathy for the Russians whatsoever.
“Anyone who is caught cheating should be banned.”
Giaan Rooney said the IAAF decision was a “great win” for all clean athletes in sport.
“I feel very sorry for all the athletes that haven’t yet had the chance to have all their medals rectified or places improved but hopefully we all believe in justice and this is the first step,” Rooney said.
Rooney said she had sympathy for any clean track and field Russian athletes.
“I think it’s very difficult to be able to tell where that lies when you hear about systematic doping - where do you draw the line and how do you figure that out,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people who have got a tough job ahead.
“But the world needs to know that the world is serious about doping offences, especially in the Olympics as this is the pinnacle of sport.
“It needs to be as clean as possible so I believe in drastic measures.”
Another Aussie great in the pool, Dawn Fraser, said she had no sympathy with the Russians.
“Anyone who takes drugs shouldn’t be going to the Olympic Games, it’s just not fair on the other athletes” she said.
“I think it’s fantastic that we’re going to be having a cleaner Olympic Games in Rio.
“It’s always disappointing to see drugs in sport.
“It’s quite sad to see a country banned but we must remember we had it with the East Germans and we had it with the Chinese.”
Pole vaulter Steve Hooker described the IAAF decision as “hugely positive” for sport.
“Based on what the IAAF found, it’s probably the right decision,” Hooker said.
“It’s sad for Rio but positive for athletics.”
“The part of the decision I’m hugely in favour of is the fact the whistleblowers will be giving consideration to compete plus those athletes who were training outside the doping regime.”
Tallent became Australia’s latest gold medallist on Friday, after he was awarded the 50km walk medal from the London Olympic that was stripped from Russian drug cheat Sergey Kirdyapkin.
“I’m very much looking towards racing in Rio with other clean athletes and seeing who is the best out of those guys,” Tallent said.
“More needs to be done in doping, the IAAF needs to spend more money, more testing needs to be done and that’s just the way it is.
“But this is a great step not to have Russia there (in Rio).”
Australian champion runner Tamsyn Lewis Manou spoke with IAAF president Sebastian Coe overnight and said it was “brilliant” such a strong stand had been taken against Russia.
“It would be a dream to see that every single athlete at Rio is going to be clean,” Manour said.
But while concerns still lingered about some competitors, retrospective testing regimes now meant cheats were taking a huge risk, she said.
“It sends a great message that if they do cheat going into Rio they will get caught.”
Australian Olympic Committee chief executive and International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates warned more drug cheating could be exposed ahead of the Rio Games in August.
Russia was suspended from track and field by the IAAF after an independent report from the World Anti-Doping Agency uncovered widespread state-sponsored doping.
Last Wednesday, a new WADA report revealed 52 failed tests since then and found evidence of Russian officials attempting to obstruct, cover-up and intimidate investigators.
“There are reportedly many weightlifters (among the 52) who tested positive from retesting in Beijing and London and the International Weightlifting Federation has to look at that in the first instance and there maybe other countries,” Mr Coates said.
andrew.jefferson@news.com.au
@AndyJeffo
Originally published as Australian Olympians back ban on Russia competing at Rio
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