Totally agree. But hope individual athletes can compete as independents if clean. All those innocent athletes that have trained for years deserve the chance.
Apparently they can compete under a neutral flag, they'll have to prove some solid evidence to prove themselves though. I guess the ones who've worked hard at their craft in a smaller sport wont have the funds to provide a case, only the big names will provide a case. They've been let down by the establishment. What is interesting though is Russia are a host country in the summer's Euro's. Wales were a nation on standby if this WADA case went through so Red-Taff might get his wish of Wales not having to go to Baku, however I feel this report has come a couple of weeks too late for the Welsh fans. Be interesting to see how Uefa handle this though.
I don't get this neutral flag lark. Just ban the guilty parties.... or are they scared of naming and shaming them ?
I agree its farcical, all the viewing public will know they're Russian athletes so what they're effectively doing is banning a flag. They know who the guilty parties are so I agree fully that those who are found to be guilty should be named and depending on each individual circumstance banned for life.
I think its because they have evidence to suggest it's state-sponsored. By banning Russia as an entitity and giving clean athletes the chance to compete as neutrals separate I think that is fair enough, no? It gives Russia no glory then. If it wasn't state sponsored then id be all for booting the dopers out, but it is deeper than that. If you were a runner in GB but your country wanted to cheat by doping and you refused to get involved, why should you have to miss out?
I get your point and think it is **** for any innocent parties out there... i'm not sure what is the best solution.
They can compete under the Olympic flag . I think any athlete that meets the criteria can compete under this flag . I think we did it once along with USA athletes when GB and USA withdrew from the Russia games in protest of Afghanistan .
It's inevitable that sadly, an across the board total ban, will involve athletes who are totally clean. It would be OK to permit anyone who has submitted a sample that was found to be clear to compete, but according to a Russian spokesperson, it now appears that thousands of specimen samples have been destroyed. There's therefore nothing to say that any of the samples that have passed and survived destruction are "authentic" of course. There doesn't appear to be an easy way round the problem really. The solution could possibly be to accept the verdict and come back with " clean" teams across the various disciplines, once the bans have expired.
I know where Baku is, But St Petersburg is and this isn't something that has just been decided over night. Cardiff was always one of numerous countries in place ready to take over St Petersburg if what has been announced today happened. It has been confirmed that Russia will still stay part of the Euros today so nothing will happen, but id think if this had been announced before the draw had been made they would've taken away their privilege of hosting.
Deemed that UEFA are not a major event organisation as far as doping breaches are concerned, so they can play in the Euros. However if I've understood it correctly, apparently, Russia will be banned from the World Cup in 2022.
You're correct, as of this moment Russia wont be part of the next world cup. But we all know how FIFA work so I wouldn't be surprised if this was overturned.
Unsure tbh but I would say they’d be sponsored or such like imo . Maybe some sport related product etc.