Tobogganing: Fendt: complete exclusion of Russians “unfair”

Josef Fendt, German President of the FIL World Luge Federation, has spoken out against a complete exclusion of Russia from the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang as part of the state doping scandal. The 70-year-old described it as “unfair”in the sports picture if clean sportsmen and women were collectively punished.

“We even made additional targeted checks on the Russians. There were no positive cases. That’s why I wouldn’t think it would be right to completely exclude the Russian team from the Olympics,”said Fendt:”We assume that all Russians were clean in luge. And then they’re locked down because other idiots have been shooting. As a former activist, I find that unfair.”

Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation, is also critical of a complete ban:”I don’t want to see clean athletes of any nationality punished if they have done nothing wrong. But it is important that those responsible are brought to justice.”