Though I feel badly for all the innocent athletes, coaches and support officials in Russia, a penalty this severe was necessary if anti-doping is to be enforced.
IT HAS taken seven investigative reports and seven years. But at long last the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided on December 5th to punish Russia for running a state-sponsored doping programme …
Russian athletes hoping to compete will have to do so carrying the Olympic flag and singing the Olympic anthem—if they can prove that they are clean. …
The decision is more embarrassing for Vitaly Mutko, Mr Putin’s deputy and the former minister for sport, who has been barred from the Olympics for life. Mr Mutko is also in charge of next year’s football World Cup, which Russia is hosting. …
Economist – Russia’s overdue Olympic ban is no cure for anti-doping impotence
Russian denials, including those of Svetlana Khorkina, are mostly wrong.
Russia should quit state sponsored doping. Putin must give that order.
related – Guardian – Of course Russian sport is corrupt, but then so are the Olympics
Gymnastics Coaching.com 