This morning the publication of the McLaren Report confirmed systematic Russian doping. In response, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made seven recommendations.
The most significant of those recommendations was that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ban Russian Olympians and Paralympians from the Rio Games.
Before WADA’s recommendations were published, the IOC and IPC each made statements in response to the McLaren Report.
The IOC reported “shock” and will address the Report in a phone conference tomorrow. It did mention “sanctions” as a possible outcome. The IPC also reported being “shocked” and “saddened.” Additionally, the IPC also plans to analyze the report and has already asked for more information.
The IOC statement reads,
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has today received the World Anti-Doping Agency’s “Independent Person Report.” The IOC will now carefully study the complex and detailed allegations, in particular with regard to the Russian Ministry of Sport.
The findings of the report show a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and on the Olympic Games. Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organisation implicated,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.
In the immediate short term, the IOC Executive Board (EB) will convene in a telephone conference tomorrow to take its first decisions, which may include provisional measures and sanctions with regard to the Olympic Games Rio 2016.”
The IPC’s issued statement says,
In response to WADA’s Independent Person Report issued on Monday (18 July), the IPC President Sir Philip Craven has made the following statement:
“We are truly shocked, appalled and deeply saddened at the extent of the state sponsored doping programme implemented in Russia ahead of Sochi 2014. The findings of the McLaren report mark a very dark day for sport.
“The IPC will now analyse the report’s findings in detail to evaluate what impact they have on the Paralympic Movement and Para Sport.
“After an initial review of the report, we note the 35 ‘disappearing’ positive samples from Paralympic sport between 2012 and 2015 and have sent a letter to WADA and the report’s author Richard McLaren seeking further information on these samples. We have also requested urgent clarification from both parties to better establish how the findings implicate the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games and Russian Para athletes as the report defines the Sochi Games as the XXII Olympic Winter Games.
“Once we have the further details we have requested from both parties, the IPC Governing Board will convene for a telephone conference. The Board will discuss the findings of the report and decide what relevant action needs to be taken to protect clean athletes competing in Paralympic sport. This may include provisional measures and sanctions with regards to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”
#stupid