Keep Russian athletes out of Rio
THE World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has uncovered shocking and widespread doping in Russia.
The Russian government was actively involved in covering up doping incidents. What is sad is that there are innocent and honest athletes out there who reach the top through hard work.
I was a big fan of Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbaeva when she broke all those records. Now I feel I was duped.
Then what about athletes who get beaten by these doping cheats? The Russian system that rules with fear means not much of what happens in Russia is known elsewhere in the world. As a result, even Russian athletes who are against doping are unlikely to say anything for fear of reprisals.
Even our own Hestrie Cloete must feel cheated. She was pipped at the post by Russian high jumper Yelena Slesarenko at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Now, there are suspicions Slesarenko may not have been clean. I won’t be surprised if the Russian government and administrators look for a scapegoat.
Worse still, they could dismiss Wada’s findings as the work of enemies. Sports people do dope and will continue to do so, but what gets my goat is when people who should be upholding the integrity of the sport encourage cheating. Governments and sports administrators should be safeguarding sports at all times and ensuring that cheats are not only exposed but rooted out. Until the extent of doping incidents is exposed, I support the exclusion of Russian athletes at the Olympics. Richardson Mzaidume Pimville