Rio Olympics - Russia's Track and Field Banned
 

So the IAAF banned the Russian T&F team from competing in Rio. It'll be interesting to see if any other countries or teams are banned before all is said and done.

http://www.si.com/olympics/2016/06/1...-iaaf-decision

Was just about to post this. Crazy story.

I do know that FINA is seeking additional information on the Russian pay to avoid testing practice that was taking place with swimmers...but right now FINA isn't planning to ban the Russian team.

Is the Russian economy so bad that they couldn't come up with the bribe money?

No, it was blatant enough that the other nations athletes were beginning to back away.

Gee, the Russians are cheating? Who would have thought that?

Those with better systems to not get caught, obviously. :lol:

They spent it all on getting the 2014 Winter Games and World Cup 2018?

It doesn't pay to get caught in Russia.

Two senior ex-officials of Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency die within 2 weeks

Hmm, Putin and his old KGB friends at it again.

And the IOC still has a possible loophole apparently, with hearings to look at what amounts to banning the team ... but letting individuals still compete.

I'll believe this stands up when I see it.

About time they pay for what Drago did to Apollo.

I read an article on this and from what I understand it is going to throw the burden of proof on it's head. The athletes who want special dispensation will be assumed to be guilty and they will have to prove they are innocent. If they hold to this, I'd have to believe it'll be pretty hard to do. Of course, they may soften on this approach and it'll be a kangaroo court and basically all but the obviously guilty will be allowed to compete.

History will look back and see the Russian Track and Field team as being fortunate to have been spared the cataclysm that will be the Rio Olympics

This is also true.

here is a pretty good (and entertaining) breakdown of the whole Russian doping scandal

https://youtu.be/BgyqAD5Z6_A

Looks like Russia is still doping and trying to cover it up, to the point that participation in the 2020 Olympics is currently in jeopardy:

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.co...da-got-access/

I think it was somewhere in that Icarus documentary that someone explained that Russians simply don't understand the separation between competition and cheating.

Neither does Bill Belichick

Or the New York Yankees.

And again...

WADA imposes four-year ban on Russia

I've been following this story, but I wasn't sure the politicians involved in these "oversight" organizations were going to have the stomach to do it again. Of course, they will make exceptions for numerous athletes that will be labelled "Olympic Athletes from Russia".