‘A SAD DAY FOR SPORT’
Canadian athletes, coaches and politicians reacted with shock, rage and dismay Monday to the bombshell findings of the McLaren report into systematic doping by Russian athletes in Olympic sport. The report, by Canadian sports lawyer Richard McLaren, says
“In the end, like in most things that happen, the athletes — the ones who follow the rules — just become like collateral damage in this mess. And I think that’s the saddest part. It’s just such a shame. There are so many athletes and coaches who believe in clean sport, but it’s all so tarnished by this stuff. With all the scandals surrounding bidding, bribery, the construction of venues and problems with Rio and Sochi, all you hear is this tarnished reputation of the Olympic Games. And the point of it all was supposed to be about the values of global community and acceptance and clean sport and competition.” Canadian bobsled pilot Helen Upperton, silver medallist at the 2010 Vancouver Games “At times it’s exceedingly hard to believe in sport. But it’s at times like this, that it’s important we continue to. I’m going paddling.” Canadian kayaker Adam van Koeverden “This is just what you expect from these guys. It shows that there’s systematic cheating all the time. This is just more proof of how they operate and how they’ve operated for many years. ... And Russia is one of the top guys, but they’re just a piece of the bigger iceberg. We can’t change the past. We can only look forward to what we can do better in the future. But we have athletes who will always have a bad taste in their mouth. They had a system in Russia that really screwed them up, and they lost out because of it. That’s the hardship.” Peter Eriksson, head coach, Athletics Canada “I think it is important, if not vital, that WADA begins investigatory mandates of other nations with serious doping cultures for two reasons: to continue to combat doping in the name of clean sport and to depoliticize the current conversations surrounding Russia’s systemic doping. I am of the opinion that, if WADA begins investigating other nations, Russia will not be able to continue using the same rhetoric that ‘the West is doing this as a political attack.’ That is, by investigating others, it validates the efforts done to expose Russia.” Canadian race walker Inaki Gomez “It’s definitely a sad day for sport, but possibly the biggest turning point for sport.” Canadian hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser, member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission “I am profoundly troubled by the evidence presented in the commission’s report of organized manipulation of dirty samples by those running the testing facility, as well as some Russian officials and athletes. The evidence of deeply rooted cheating is extremely upsetting. I remain committed to working with my international colleagues to ensure systemic change is undertaken following the release of this evidence. It is imperative that there are consequences at all levels for those who are cheating the system, not just the athletes.” Carla Qualtrough, Canadian Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities “I can only imagine how betrayed the clean athletes of the world are feeling today in the face of this evidence.” Paul Melia, chief executive officer of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport