Was Russia rescued from Olympics ban by Putin’s Poodle?
Games chief under fire over Moscow’s doping let-off
SMILING and clinking their champagne glasses, they appear to be enjoying a friendly drink.
But the exact nature of the relationship between Vladimir Putin and Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, was under the spotlight last night after Russia escaped being banned from the Rio Olympics.
There was a widespread belief that Russia would not be allowed to compete after an official report exposed a vast state-sponsored doping programme in the country. But, after a meeting of its executive board yesterday, the IOC decided against a blanket ban.
Instead, the 28 sporting federations that cover Olympic events will be left to make their own decisions on whether Russians will be allowed to compete.
They now have two weeks to rule before the Games begin on August 5. But track and field athletes do face a ban – a decision that was made last week – along with anyone in any other sport who has previously served a doping ban.
Last night Mr Bach was accused of ‘passing the buck’. German newspaper Bild referred to Mr Bach as ‘Putin’s poodle’ in its coverage.
It is known that when Mr Bach was elected in 2013, the first call he received was from the Russian president, whose country was then gearing up to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Mr Bach, who won an Olympic gold medal in fencing for West Germany in 1976, has been a regular visitor to Russia during his three years as head of the IOC.
But Russia’s relationship with the Olympic movement has come under severe strain after a report commissioned by the World AntiDoping Agency revealed the country operated a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015.
The damning report concluded Russia’s sports ministry ‘directed, controlled and oversaw’ manipulation of urine samples provided by its athletes to prevent detec- tion of the banned substances they had taken.
Mr Bach said: ‘An athlete should not suffer and should not be sanctioned for a system in which he was not implicated.’ He added: ‘We have set the bar to the limit by establishing a number of very strict criteria which every Russian athlete will have to fulfil if he or she wants to participate in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
‘I think in this way, we have balanced on the one hand, the desire and need for collective responsibility versus the right to individual justice of every individual athlete.’
Critics last night accused the IOC of showing ‘weak leadership’ in refusing to ban Russia.
Former Olympian and gold medallist James Cracknell accusing the IOC of ‘bottl[ing] it’.
Rowing champion Mr Cracknell tweeted yesterday: ‘Thomas Bach too close to Putin? Apparently his 1st call after being elected IOC President was from the Russian President #conspiracytheory.’
Two-time swimming gold medallist Sharron Davies said: ‘Absolutely it’s a cop-out by the IOC. I’m so disappointed.’
Miss Davies was awarded a gold medal in 2014 after it was revealed her East German rival in the 1980 Olympics, Petra Schneider, was taking steroids.
She tweeted: ‘So disappointed in the IOC again, shows it’s more about the money than the spot! Shame on them’.
Four-time rowing gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent tweeted: ‘“No YOU decide. We don’t want to”. What a cop-out.’
The United States Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart said: ‘The decision regarding Russian participation and the confusing mess left in its wake is a significant blow to the rights of clean athletes.’
Last night it was unclear how many Russians would be allowed to compete by their sporting bodies. But the International Tennis Federation said it expected all eight Russian players to compete.