International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has had his integrity questioned by another leading German athlete as he arrived here for the start of Rio 2016.
Bach has faced severe criticism since the decision by the IOC’s ruling Executive Board on Sunday (July 24) not to ban Russia from these Olympic Games, even though a report produced by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) allegedly found evidence of state-sponsored doping in the country.
Germany’s Olympic discus champion Robert Harting claimed following the decision that Bach is “part of the doping system, not the anti-doping system”.
Five-time Olympic speed skating gold medallist Claudia Pechstein has now criticised Bach’s close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“In my eyes, Bach can be bought politically,” she told German news agency SID.
“He is lying to the world when he preaches publicly that it is necessary for every athlete to be presumed innocent.”
