[Other Sport] Russia banned from sporting events for 4 years

[narly101]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ed-from-tokyo-olympics-and-football-world-cup

Can't say I'm surprised, but jeez you'd have thought that in this day and age of drug focus, they'd have sorted it out by now.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

No Easter for them then.

 

[narly101]

oh bugger "Sporting" events

 

[Arthur]

Did I hear the other day that it wouldn't affect them in the Euros as UEFA don't recognise the doping agency or similar??

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Out of World Cup wow.

 

[portlock seagull]

Russia should be added to the dictionary definition of cheating. Sport, elections, business...it matters not. The only time they’re not is when they’ve yet to be caught. Pointless letting them compete ever again. They’ve cheated for the entire 20th and 21st centuries. Maybe let them back in for the 22nd? Until then, good riddance.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

oh bugger "Sporting" events

And now you edit it from Spring and leave me hanging out to dry.

 

[narly101]

I do feel sorry for those athletes in Russia who genuinely are not involved. To be able to attend but as an independent is as much a shame as it is to know that your own country wilfully pursues doping, and no matter what you as an athlete would do to prevent being involved, you are still tarred with the same brush.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Should never have had the World Cup in the first place.

 

[portlock seagull]

I do feel sorry for those athletes in Russia who genuinely are not involved. To be able to attend but as an independent is as much a shame as it is to know that your own country wilfully pursues doping, and no matter what you as an athlete would do to prevent being involved, you are still tarred with the same brush.

I think that’s extremely naive. Any Russian involved in sport is a a political pawn. Whether they want to be or not, their state will be telling them what to do including cheating. They don’t have a choice. You’re assuming they have morale standards. They don’t. It’s how dictatorships world. As said, they’re only not cheating until they’re caught. And as we’ve seen time and time again in sport, it’s incredibly difficult to stop criminals. By their nature they’re clever, manipulative and devious - staying one step ahead of is very hard when they’re acting alone, let alone when it’s state sponsored. Four years is nothing, Russia’s been cheating forever and a day. Google east german ladies shot putters for example.

 

[GT49er]

Except they're only banned 'globally', not for tournaments based on location - so specifically 'European' (like the European football championships) events, no prob, African events, no prob, South American events, no prob. - etc.
So, a ban about as rigidly enforced as the 70mph limit on most motorways.

 

[Goring-by-Seagull]

Except they're only banned 'globally', not for tournaments based on location - so specifically 'European' (like the European football championships) events, no prob, African events, no prob, South American events, no prob. - etc.
So, a ban about as rigidly enforced as the 70mph limit on most motorways.

There's a 70mph limit!?

 

[schmunk]

Except they're only banned 'globally', not for tournaments based on location - so specifically 'European' (like the European football championships) events, no prob, African events, no prob, South American events, no prob. - etc.
So, a ban about as rigidly enforced as the 70mph limit on most motorways.

So, Russia for the Copa Libertadores next season...?

 

[GT49er]

There's a 70mph limit!?

Yes there is, but most of the time it isn't strictly enforced. On most motorways (in normal conditions, and where there aren't variable speed limits) traffic is moving along at 75, towards 80. If three penalty points were handed out for speeding every time a driver hit the mid to upper 70s on Britain's motorways, probably more than half of car drivers would be twiddling their thumbs at home having racked up 12 points and a ban

 

[GT49er]

So, Russia for the Copa Libertadores next season...?

As far as ban's concerned, yes. Very much doubt if they'd qualify though (though I don't personally have any knowledge of the extent of Putin's expansionist plans)!

 

[rippleman]

Out of World Cup wow.

But in for the Euros. Good to see UEFA turning the Nelsonian eye to drug cheating now as well as racism.

 

[Triggaaar]

Russia should be added to the dictionary definition of cheating. Sport, elections, business...it matters not. The only time they’re not is when they’ve yet to be caught.

Exactly. And internally they won't be questioning why they're cheating or how to reform, they'll only be concerned about how not to get caught next time.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

But in for the Euros. Good to see UEFA turning the Nelsonian eye to drug cheating now as well as racism.

Apparently it’s because it’s not a world event

 

[Hastings gull]

I think that’s extremely naive. Any Russian involved in sport is a a political pawn. Whether they want to be or not, their state will be telling them what to do including cheating. They don’t have a choice. You’re assuming they have morale standards. They don’t. It’s how dictatorships world. As said, they’re only not cheating until they’re caught. And as we’ve seen time and time again in sport, it’s incredibly difficult to stop criminals. By their nature they’re clever, manipulative and devious - staying one step ahead of is very hard when they’re acting alone, let alone when it’s state sponsored. Four years is nothing, Russia’s been cheating forever and a day. Google east german ladies shot putters for example.[/QUOTE]

Yes, you are right. The East German athletic system was fundamentally rotten. Kids showing talent were frog-marched off to specialist training centres, with parents bribed by getting preferential treatment, usually with housing, and athletes were forced to take drugs. Over the years, some of them have had health problems due to this.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Two questions:

1) Does this affect Russia's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest - which is shown globally and involves Australia - and

2) If so, then who are Azerbaijan going to give their 12 points to?