Home Editorial Anti-Doping The IOC is now complicit

The IOC is now complicit

February 19, 2018

So the Russian curler, Aleksandr Krushelnitckii, who tested positive for Meldonium in his A sample (but the B sample has not yet been tested), claims that someone must have spiked his fluids while in Japan. Right. Meldonium is very commonly used in Eastern Europe and Russia. It was developed in Russia. It is one of their go-to drugs. Many Russian and Eastern Bloc athletes have tested positive for it over the past 20 years.

…he’s a curler….

This particular failure is an indication of the Russian culture – they just don’t get it, at all. It is also an indication of the pathetic act by the International Olympic Committee of allowing the Russians to compete under a similar banner as “Russia” as “Athletes from Russia”.

This is why they should have been completely banned, carte blanche, 100 per cent from the day one.

The IOC is culpable, complicit and as guilty as the Russians now.

The purpose of allowing Russians to compete in Pyeongchang was to create a pathway for clean athletes. See IOC article here: https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-suspends-russian-noc-and-creates-a-path-for-clean-individual-athletes-to-compete-in-pyeongchang-2018-under-the-olympic-flag

From Inside the Games

Russia’s response to a possible failed drugs test in curling and the swift payment of a multi-million dollar fine imposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be key if the country is to have any chance of marching under its own flag at the Closing Ceremony of Pyeongchang 2018.

A decision is due to be made by an IOC Executive Board on Saturday (February 24) following a recommendation by a specially-convened implementation panel.

Signs suggest, however, that the patience of key IOC officials is wearing increasingly thin.

A process is currently taking place in the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Seoul to test a B-sample submitted by curler Aleksandr Krushelnitckii after his initial test showed the presence of meldonium.

Krushelnitckii, winner of an Olympic mixed doubles bronze medal alongside his wife, Anastasia Bryzgalova as part of the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) team, has handed-in his accreditation and travelled to Seoul to witness the opening of the B-sample.

If this confirms the presence of the drug, which has been responsible for dozens of Russian and Eastern European failures since being added to banned list in January 2016, then the case is expected to be handed on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping division later today to begin a sanctioning process.

It is understood by insidethegames that Krushelnitckii has told Russian officials how he fears someone at the training camp in Japan spiked his drink with meldonium before he travelled to South Korea.

This claim is being investigated, but insidethegames has also learned that the IOC are likely to take a dim view of such an explanation given previous denials and that it may be in Russia’s interest to apologise rather than challenge the verdict.

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