The founding president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Dick Pound, said it could be “time for Russia to take a break from the Olympics” following the drug scandal surrounding the 15-year-old figure skater. Kamila Valieva.
On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled Valieva could continue playing in Beijing, despite a positive test result for a banned heart drug in a sample from December.
“This has been going on for too long and it’s been so obvious,” Pound told CNN.
“You know, [Russian] the government couldn’t explain why no one would play with them. And the answer is because you cheat.”
Some basic information: Monday’s decision by CAS only determines whether Valieva can participate in the Beijing Olympics.
The IOC has made it clear that her case – and those around her – will continue to be investigated long after the closing ceremony.
Russian athletes have been banned from competing at the Olympics under their country’s flag due to sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA for “systematic manipulation” of anti-doping rules during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Pound, who is also a former vice-president of the IOC, said the penalties the ROC has faced since Sochi were “tolerant” and ineffective, and that banning the team from competition would attract Russia’s “attention”. .
“It’s the nuclear option. You just have to say sorry, you won’t be invited to the next Olympics, you won’t be able to host any Olympic sporting events, etc., that will attract Their attention So far, we’ve relatively Pound said failed to get their attention because every decision made is subject to appeal.
“It is not a healthy atmosphere for Russia. And it was not a healthy atmosphere in which athletes from the rest of the world had to compete in competitions involving Russians. “
