BEIJING (Reuters) – Russia may have an Olympic “timeout” as doping points resurface after determine skating prodigy Kamila Valieva examined constructive for a banned substance on the Beijing Winter Games, senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound mentioned.
Russian athletes on the Beijing Games are already not competing underneath their flag whereas carrying the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on their uniforms, and their anthem shouldn’t be being performed at any ceremonies, following sanctions imposed for the widespread doping throughout many sports activities uncovered after the Sochi Games.
The 15-year-old Valieva grew to become an early darling of the Beijing Games when she grew to become the primary lady to land a quadruple leap on the Olympics and helped the ROC win a staff gold.
However, the International Testing Agency (ITA) mentioned she examined constructive for banned coronary heart drug Trimetazidine in a urine pattern collected by Russian authorities on Dec. 25.
The Russian anti-doping company RUSADA imposed a provisional suspension on Valieva on Tuesday then lifted it a day after on enchantment.
The IOC, International Skating Union (ISU) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have mentioned they are going to ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to reinstate the suspension.
“At a sure level if they’re completely incorrigible you find yourself with the place of take a nation timeout,” mentioned Pound in a telephone interview from Florida. “We might say we will help you. You obtained a downside. We can consider it. Take a time out for one or two, or three Olympic Games till you get this underneath management.”
Russia has acknowledged some shortcomings in its implementation of anti-doping guidelines, however denies working a state-sponsored doping programme.
“The Russians do not assist themselves as a result of they’ve been completely unrepentant,” mentioned Pound. “They will not admit something, they enchantment each single choice.”
“I feel the method most likely has been too lenient to permit them to compete because the Russian Olympic Committee.”
Valieva’s failed drug take a look at has reawakened world anger over Moscow’s doping historical past and outrage over how a minor got here to have a prohibited drug in her system.
“There are all types of issues happening and I’m positive the Russians have lawyered up and try something and the whole lot to manage the harm,” mentioned Pound. “But how might you’ve gotten probably uncovered her to that threat.
“This shouldn’t be like a tainted complement that is a non-therapeutic use of a pretty potent drug.”
Pound mentioned efforts to work with Russia and appease them haven’t labored and a completely different method to the issue could be obligatory.
“It’s type of appeasement, I neglect who described it this manner however appeasement is type of like feeding the alligators and hoping you’ll be the final one they eat,” he mentioned.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Beijing. Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
