IOC members clash over Russian ban
PYEONGCHANG With the Winter Olympics set to open Friday, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach faced a barrage of criticism — and entrenched support — from roughly a hundred IOC members Tuesday about the decision to exclude many Russian athletes from the Pyeongchang Games.
Two members — Canadian Dick Pound and Gerardo Werthein — got into a nasty exchange. Pound, the IOC’s longest-serving member, was among more than a dozen to air views on “the matter of Russian doping activities.” Pound is also the former president of WADA, the world body charged with policing doping in sports.
“I believe that in the collective mind of a significant portion of the world, and among the athletes of the world, the IOC has not only failed to protect athletes, but has made it possible for cheating athletes to prevail against the clean athletes,” Pound said.
“We talk more than we walk. The athletes and the public at large ... no longer have confidence that their interests are being protected. Our commitment to both is in serious doubt.” Werthein jumped in.
“For some reason if Mr. Pound doesn’t agree, then it’s wrong,” Werthein said. “We have to understand this is not Mr. Pound’s organization. But this is the IOC.”
Werthein called some of what Pound said “very unfair.”
“He makes statements that create an environment of doubt,” Werthein added. “In one way it discredits the work that is being done in the IOC.”
Pound shot back.
“I think it’s extremely inappropriate to turn this into an ad hominem (a character attack),” Pound said.
As Pound and Werthein clashed, 32 Russian athletes on Tuesday filed yet more appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking spots in the Games. The 32 failed to pass IOC vetting and were not invited.
The CAS decision is expected Wednesday.