Squash officials are flexing some muscle in battle against wrestling

SQUASH is trying to force its way into the Olympic Games by highlighting its record on sex and drugs.

IT is David versus Goliath and Vladimir Putin as squash tries to force its way into the Olympic Games by highlighting its record on sex and drugs.

Squash is regarded as the underdog against the might of wrestling as the two sports, along with a combination of baseball and softball, seek inclusion at the 2020 Games. It is the third successive bid by squash, which has never featured at the Olympics, whereas wrestling is already there but was warned in February that it must prove itself to stay on after 2016.

Wrestling has tradition and global powerhouses behind it. The Russian President has put his weight firmly behind it, as has the US. Sergey Bubka, one of six candidates to become the new IOC president, also paid tribute to the way wrestling had reinvented itself in a short period.

"I'm sure it will bring positive results," he said. "I believe the IOC, along with Fila (wrestling's governing body), will find a solution to the problem which will benefit both wrestling and the Olympic movement."

However, squash officials are flexing some muscle. One of the IOC criticisms levelled at wrestling was its gender inequality. It has also had doping problems. One bronze medal-winner from London has been stripped of his medal.

World Squash Federation president Narayana Ramachandran said: "Our sport embraces gender parity and many of our key events have equality in prize money for men and women. Squash is gladiatorial, physically demanding and mentally challenging. We are already played in every major multi-sport games, the respected Forbes magazine has described us as the 'world's healthiest sport', and of course we have a 100 per cent doping-free record.

"These are themes that we will bring to life in our presentation."

That presentation will also emphasise that squash is a global sport played in 185 countries. However, the outcry that ensued when wrestling was declared in danger, and the improvements made since, looks set to pay off. Indeed, some believe that if Tokyo wins the race to be the host city this weekend, some IOC voters may be swayed towards baseball because of its popularity in Japan.

THE TIMES