Putin and Russian denials of having doped athletes sound just like Mr. Trump denying it was his voice on the Access Hollywood tape.
If you believe either, then you are the fool who believes anything.
Bach will be bribed.
Hiptip for Bach: decline beverage service.
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I am gping to Korea for the Olympics - and I want to see the Russians in hockey - especially Ovechkin. So, I am biased.
But the IOC is such a compromised organization with buying and selling votes for a city selection, its member country organizations riddled with corrupt politicians, officials - hardly has an upper moral ground.
What is surprising is that knowing history of doping in the Soviet Union - the IOC gave a blanket check to Russia to control the lab. At the least, WADA and IOC should have insisted on its own agents and observers.
And not to castigate Switzerland or the Swiss wholesale - but the Swiss are hardly known for morals - witness rampant corruption in FIFA and IAAC - headquartered there.
So, my own take is they need to repeat what they did in Rio.
I was there and it seems to me that barring a couple, the Russians hardly won anything significant.
Make Russia make the call to punish its own clean athletes.
After watching Icarus on Netflix over the weekend, I can't help but think that despite all the overwhelming evidence against Russia, they'll get away with itl.
Money talks in international sports (Olympics, FIFA, etc..) so I'm sure Putin gave the IOC some early Christmas presents to sway them.
Russia will get away with it, just as with Sochi, just as with Rio and just as with Nov 7, 2016.
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Attention! Spoiler alert. Don't read if you want to enjoy your popcorn and watch the end of the thriller.
According to the insidethegames portal IOC already contacted its official uniform supplier Nike to design kit for Russian athletes to wear as neutral athletes. So the IOC decision has been made already - no Russian flag in the Olympics.
As far as the Russia is concerned, if Putin's past history is any indication he has lot of respect for Russian athletes and will not want to deprive the likes of Medvedeva their deserved medals in Korea. That is why Russia will not boycott the Olympics even if the Russian flag is banned.
On a practival level boycotting Olympics will be hugely unpopular in Russia and will put blame on Putin. On the other hand, the supposed humiliation by banning Russian flag and the anthem will only reinforce the popular opinion in Russia that the West is out to get Russia. It may even boost Putin's popularity for standing up to such attacks.
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Ban Russia for life.
The IOC with a spine and doing the right thing by severely punishing the cheating Russians-that will be a novel thing.
Any team that dopes their athletes should be barred from competing, including the USA too...there are consequences for lying & cheating in life. The Olympics is supposed to be pure...not about winning by any means ie cheating. What kind of role model does that offer? And why are we paying for these events if they are corrupted by known cheaters and big money interests?
What amazes me is the ability of Russians to lie. They are not in Crimea. They are not in Donbas. Their elections are honest. They did not systematically cheat at Sochi. The West is the cause of all their problems. It just goes on and on and they feel completely entitled to their ''Ptomkin'' version of the truth. I guess the only question left is do they actually beileve their lies? That is a moot point.
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Ban all Russian athletes. Allow the individuals to apply for reinstatement on an individual basis. Make Russia pay for the process.
You ain;t cheating, you ain't trying - will that go on a t-shirt?
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Let's hope a resolution doesn't involve polonium.
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Thank God, now our Olympic team with legal therapeutic exceptions will be the Champion.
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You are wrong
Norwegians have more asthmatic athletes than you do
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Best case scenario for Russia makes it impossible for Russia to win Hockey. They would be banned. It would be neutral won hockey and If anyone one that team ever said they played for Russia the medal would be taken away.
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I wish The Times would stick to straight up news which it has done so well for so long. This is a serious topic that has been trivialized by the writer and it diminishes the newspaper.
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How so? How about backing up your claim with some evidence? :/
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