Aussie supremo John Coates expects Russian Olympic ban

The prospect of Russia being banned from the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo is growing more and more likely to eventuate, according to Aussie Olympic supremo John Coates.

• REVENGE: Russian attackers target medical records

• RUSSIA: Prove innocence or lose Tokyo spot

Russia will almost certainly be banned from next year’s Tokyo Olympics if the latest shocking revelations that operatives tried to steal private medical information about Australian athletes are proven true.

That’s the expectation from unimpressed Aussie Olympic supremo John Coates, who is also the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) man in charge of the coordination committee for Tokyo.

Coates said the decision on whether Russia would be kicked out of next year’s Olympics would ultimately boil down to the findings from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) latest investigation into Russia’s dirty tricks.

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Russia face the prospect of being banned from Tokyo 2020. Picture: Fabrice Coffrini

But he said the IOC, which will make the final call, was unlikely to go against WADA’s recommendations meaning Russia now faces the real risk of a humiliating shut out from the greatest show in global sport.

“They (WADA) own all these things,” Coates told The Daily Telegraph.

“They’ll make a decision on whether Russia, whether Russian Anti-Doping, whether Russian Olympic bidding, whether Russian track and field remains WADA compliant.

“There is process and possible sanctions if they’re not compliant, which the IOC will abide by.”

The IOC was heavily criticised for going weak at the knees when it opted not to impose a blanket ban on Russia for the 2016 Rio Olympics despite allegations of state run doping – leaving the decision up to the governing body of each individual sport.

John Coates spoke on Russia’s situation. Picture: Behrouz Mehri

But the IOC did the right thing and blocked Russia from competing at last year’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics after WADA uncovered more damning evidence of state-run cheating.

Russian hackers have been busted before for trying to steal information from other countries but the news they were targeting Australians makes a complete mockery of Russia’s vow to clean up their act.

“We’ve had the hacking experience previously, it’s not just Australians, but other athletes,” Coates said.

Mack Horton made a public stand against drug cheats. Picture: Ed Jones

“I think it was an accessing of WADA materials, not the accessing of any information the AOC held.

“And of course we’re upset with the hacking of any sensitive,

any medical, personal, private information.”

The chief executive of Australia’s doping authority David Sharpe has already called for Russia to be banned and he’s not alone.

Microsoft revealed that the attacks are just the latest in a series of Russian dirty tricks on foreign politicians, sporting officials and anti-doping regulators to undermine their critics.

It’s no coincidence that Australians have been targetted because they have been among the most outspoken countries in the world on doping issues, but the payback has been ferocious.

Just ask Mack Horton, who received death threats to him and his family after his brave protest against Sun Yang at this year’s world swimming championships. Or Andrew Bogut, who copped the same abuse after he spoke out in support of Horton’s stance for cleaner sport.

“They are matters that are being addressed, I am sure, by WADA,

as they were previously,” Coates said.

“Any (proven links) between the hackers and Russian authorities, Russian athletics, first of all, they would be considered by the WADA compliance committee, that’s where it starts.”

Originally published as Aussie supremo John Coates expects Russian Olympic ban