The IOC’s decision to exclude Russia from the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang is making waves in the world of sport. The feedback is generally positive. But Ines Geipel, the chairman of the doping victims’ help association, sees it differently. It demands far more draconian punishments.
Thomas Bach (IOC President):”Samuel Schmid’s report notes an unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and the Olympic Games. The IOC executive has now imposed appropriate sanctions. At the same time, the executive wants to protect clean athletes. This decision is intended to mark the end of a tragic chapter on doping and to be the catalyst for a new, tougher fight against doping”.
Alfons Hörmann (President of the German Olympic Sports Federation):”This is a good day for world sport and a good day for German sport. It is a very balanced decision. On the one hand, draconian punishments for the string-puller, on the other hand, respect for the rights of the hopefully clean individual athletes. We can only hope that very precise control will now follow. Today will be a historic day. With the resolutions, Thomas Bach has reached the limits of what is possible.”
Jim Walden (attorney of whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov):”Today’s decision of the IOC sends a powerful message that it does not tolerate state-sponsored fraud by any nation. As the world could see, dr. Rodchenkov provided credible and irrefutable evidence of the Russian state-supported doping system, which was ultimately supervised and financed by the then Sports Minister Witali Mutko and other high-ranking officials of the government”.
Andrea Gotzmann (Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the National Anti-Doping Agency):”The decision is a clear signal for clean sport. The IOC has developed extensive measures. The decision represents a turning point with a clear statement by the IOC for fair competitions: Doping is not tolerated. However, one cannot speak of satisfaction. It is sad that such a decision was necessary. We must now further intensify our work for the equal opportunities of all athletes”.
Travis Tygert (Chairman of the U. S. Anti-Doping Agency):”Today the IOC has listened to the one that concerns it most – and the clean athletes have won a significant victory. While today’s decision takes into account the power of clean athletes and the principles of fair play, it’s a sad day due to the damage done by the values of the games.”
Scott Blackmun (President of the US National Olympic Committee):”The IOC has made a strong and principled decision. There were no perfect options, but this decision makes it less likely that such a thing will ever happen again. Now it’s time to look towards the Pyeongchang.”
Silke Kassner (DOSB Athletes’ Committee):”We think the exclusion of Russia and the draconian punishment of the IOC is perfectly correct. Russia has systematically cheated, but if athletes can prove that they have moved out of the system in recent months and years and that the decision on the right to start is made transparently and comprehensibly, then these athletes should definitely start in Pyeongchang.”.
Michael Ilgner (Chairman of the Board of Management of Deutsche Sporthilfe):”As we understand it at first glance, the decision is a first step in the right direction, even though even clearer measures were conceivable. Further steps must now be taken to enforce the international anti-doping regulations across the board and to restore lost confidence. It must remain apparent that the IOC is actively fighting for its values. For clean athletes, the hope of competing with fair competitors in Pyeongchang can rise again.”
Ines Geipel (Chairwoman of the Doping Victims’ Relief Association):”Putin and the Russians have long since become too important for the Olympic sport to make a consistent decision against fraud. But the decision stinks and is nothing more than deliberate backdoor politics. The logic of the neutral deal will bring peace to the Russians, but once again make the Olympic movement a variety. An embarrassing game. Olympia as a fraudulent label par excellence.”