So Not Dope
From the return of oiled up Tongan flag bearer, to an awkward nip slip on the ice, the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang did not fall short on entertainment value.
President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach insisted these games were a testament of how sport makes the world a better place.
For once geological tension was fogged as North and South Korea played nice. The two countries putting their differences aside to participate.
And we can’t ignore New Zealand’s triumph. Teenagers, Zoi Sadowski-Synott and Nico Porteous ending New Zealand’s 26-year medal drought, both bringing home bronze.
But on the side of all the celebrations Russian athletes were causing controversy yet again.
Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of his bronze medal after testing positive for banned heart drug meldonium.
Not long after, Russian bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva tested positive to angina medication containing performance enhancing properties.
Ironically, Sergeeva had earlier posted on a picture on Instagram wearing a sweatshirt with the words “I don’t do doping, I am ZASPORT” referencing the official clothing of the Olympic Committee.
Come on though was anyone really that surprised?
After the doping conundrum at the Sachi games in 2014 where drug-filled Russian athletes dominated the podiums,
it’s a wonder how any Russian athletes were allowed back.
25 Russian athletes were caught doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics. As a result, 11 medals were stripped from the Russian team.
Athletes were allegedly given ‘cocktails’ containing three drugs of banned substances. Russian authorities were rumoured threatening drug testers and even swapping out tainted urine to avoid failed results.
After the illegal doping scandal in 2014, the IOC “banned” Russia from this year’s Winter Olympics.
The ban allowed Russian athletes with a clean history of competing to participate in Pyeongchang.
However, the Russian Olympics Committee were charged $15million and their athletes competed under the Olympic flag and anthem instead of their own.
A mere slap on the wrist really after the chaos they had caused in the previous games.
The ban didn’t stop two Russian competitors from having illegal substances in their system in Pyeongchang, leaving many athletes and spectators fuming yet again.
Five days after her failed test Sergeeva was re-tested and passed. However, for curler Alexander Krushelnitsky his future in curling looks bleak.
The IOC continue to brush the issue under the carpet.
President, Tom Bach says he doesn’t think the games were tainted by the Russian team as there was no official Russian team.
It seems the spineless Olympic Committee will lift Russia’s poor excuse of a ‘ban’ soon, utilising future competitions to weed out drug cheats.
A frustrating and disrespectful cycle for athletes who earn their spot on the podium fair and square.