2016 Olympic Games in Rio: Only Russians cheat?

[Timótheos]

Yesterday the New York Times published an article exposing an 'allegedly' massive Russian government-sponsored doping scandal during the Sochi winter games.

Russian Insider Says State-Run Doping Fueled Olympic Gold (Published 2016)

Each night, said the director of the antidoping lab at the Sochi Games, bottles of urine were passed through a hole in the wall and replaced for testing the next day.

www.nytimes.com

All the claims about the cover-up appear to be based upon the testimony of a single individual - a Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov - who was in charge of the drug testing lab in Russia during the games.

Dr. Rodchenkov resigned from his position last fall and has since relocated to Los Angeles with the help of his friend, a Mr Bryan Fogel. Interestingly, or not, Mr. Fogel is producing a documentary about the scandal with the help of Dr. Rodchenkov as his advisor and is also the author of the best-selling book Jewtopia: The Chosen Guide for the Chosen People.

Bryan Fogel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I sense that there's more to this story than meets the eye.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

The website "Sputnik" has been following the story with periodic updates.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) needs information about the alleged breaches of the doping rules by Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia's southern resort of Sochi to start an investigation, President of WADA Craig Reedie said.

WADA Needs Info on Alleged Russia's Breaches of Rules During Sochi Olympics
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160513/1039550893/wada-sochi-olympics-doping.html

13.05.2016 - On Thursday, US media reported, citing then-director of the Russia-based antidoping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov, that dozens of Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, including at least 15 medal winners and the entire women’s hockey team, had been using doping throughout the Games.

"We have been dealing with the compliance of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency… There are new allegations, which have surfaced only in the last two-three days… I am talking about breaches of the rules in Sochi. Now, before I can do anything, say anything or investigate, I need to have that information… Once we know that, then we will investigate. So I am not prejudging the situation. I have to say the news, is not comfortable news in Russia," Reedie told R-Sport.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday that the claims about Russian athletes doping at the 2014 Olympics were "absurd," adding that a detailed official response was yet to come.

The Russian authorities have promised to carry out a clean-up program to fulfill WADA demands that came after the agency accused Russia of breaching global anti-doping regulations in 2015, in order for country's athletes to be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics

The Kremlin spokesman dismissed reports, which claimed that Russian athletes allegedly took doping during the Sochi Olympics, as "defamation by a defector".

'Defamation by Defector': Kremlin Disproves Reports of State Doping Program
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160513/1039549011/doping-program-russia-peskov.html

13.05.2016 - Reports in the West that Russian athletes participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi took part in a state-funded doping program designed to enhance their performance are groundless and look like “defamation by a defector,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

“I would say that these statements seem completely proofless and aren’t based on any sort of information deserving trust and are not backed by any sort of argumentation. This simply looks like, you know, defamation by a defector or something like that. I wouldn’t trust these types of unfounded statements,” Peskov told journalists.

The athletes allegedly involved in the doping scandal, including 15 medal winners, reportedly received a mixture of three banned drugs, the New York Times reported, citing the director of a laboratory that tested the athletes, Grigory Rodchenkov.

Rodchenkov claimed the laboratory had to replace the Olympians' urine to conceal the athletes’ use of drugs.

Claims of former director the Russian antidoping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov regarding Russian athletes’ doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics could be nothing but the setting of personal accounts, a representative of the Russian Sports Ministry told R-Sport.

Claims of Russian Athletes’ Doping at 2014 Olympics Must Be Proven
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160513/1039535460/russian-athlets-doping-claims.html

13.05.2016 - The also added that they need to be supported by factual evidence.

On Thursday, US media reported, citing then-director of the Russian antidoping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov, that dozens of Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, including at least 15 medal winners and the entire women’s hockey team, were doping throughout the Games.

"Everything voiced by the former director of the laboratory is shocking indeed. However, given that he was relieved of his post precisely for probe manipulation, all of what he said may be nothing but the settling of personal accounts," the Russian Sports Ministry representative said.

According to the Sports Ministry, Russia has already proven its commitment to the fight against doping by having invited foreign experts to be responsible for doping control in the country.

"We have nothing to hide and we will continue this work," the ministry representative said.

Russia sent a letter to WADA requesting to investigate meldonium probe results.

Russian Sports Ministry Urges WADA to Consider Meldonium Issue
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160511/1039405677/meldonium-wada-russian-sports-ministry.html

11.05.2016 - Russian Ministry of Sports has sent a letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with the request to pay serious attention to the problem of meldonium, Natalya Zhelanova, an adviser to Russia's sports minister, said.

In March, a number of prominent Russian athletes were tested positive for meldonium, added to the list of banned substances on January 1, 2016 by WADA.

Meldonium was developed in Latvia to treat patients with heart conditions. WADA considers the drug to be a metabolic modulator that increases athletes' endurance and shortens post-exercise rehabilitation time.

In April, WADA said in a statement that less than 1 micrograms of meldonium per milliliter in a doping test would be permissible in samples submitted before March 1, 2016.

The majority of doping-rule violations registered in 2014 were made by the Russian athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in a report on Wednesday.

Russian Athletes Above All in Anti-Doping Rules Violations Report for 2014
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160427/1038734060/wada-doping-rules-violations.html

27.04.2016 - According to WADA's Anti-Doping Rule Violations Report, 148 out of 1,693 violations were made by Russian athletes, followed by Italians with 123 violations.

In December 2014, Germany’s ARD television broadcaster released the film titled "The Doping Secret: How Russia Creates Champions" on alleged doping abuse and corruption in Russian sports. Following the release of the film, WADA launched an investigation into the allegations of doping abuse in Russian sports.

In November 2015, WADA presented a report, accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations and recommended the country be banned from international athletics competitions, which then led to the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) suspension from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

In March, a number of prominent Russian athletes were tested positive for meldonium, medicine added to the list of banned substances on January 1, 2016 by WADA.

Earlier this month, WADA revoked its accreditation of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, citing the lab’s alleged non-compliance with the International Standard for Laboratories and related technical documents.

Attempts by the World Anti-Doping Agency to suspend Russian track and field athletes from the Olympics in Rio are likely to fail, German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau wrote.

This is Why WADA Doping Scandal 'Will Burst Like a Bubble'
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160427/1038703317/wada-doping-scandal.html

27.04.2016 - According to German analyst Jürgen Ahäuzer, members of the Russian athletics team are expected to participate in the Olympic Games in Brazil, simply because Russia is not the only country which experienced a scandal of that kind.

"Russian athletes can hope for Rio because half of the world is stuck in a stinking doping swamp," the analyst wrote.

In Ahäuzer's opinion, the intentions behind the revelation have been good, but at the end the whole scandal is likely to burst like a bubble.

The doping scandal broke out in December 2014 following a documentary of the German TV channel ARD. The film revealed that Russian athletes were regularly taking the banned meldonium drug as instructed by their coaches.

Some 30 Russian athletes have tested positive for the drug so far, with Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova being the first to admit the results of her positive test in public. The overall number of athletes who tested positive for meldonium, including those from Sweden, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries, has reached 100, BBC reported.

Earlier, Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko stated in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel that the Russian national athletics team will be able to participate in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

"We have done everything to ensure that the disqualification has been canceled," Mutko said. "We've changed org-men and coaches who raised suspicions. Our athletes have a moral right to be in Rio," Mutko stressed.

The Minister also added that if Russian athletes aren't allowed to participate in the Olympics the entire Russian sports team will boycott the event.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has no grounds to punish Russian athletes who have tested positive for meldonium, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Wednesday.

WADA Lacks Grounds to Punish Russian Athletes for Meldonium Use – Minister
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160413/1037935222/wada-meldonium-russia.html

13.04.2016 - Earlier in the day, WADA said in a statement seen by the R-Sport news agency that less than 1 micrograms of meldonium per milliliter would be permissible in samples submitted before March 1, 2016. The world anti-doping body listed meldonium as a banned substance on January 1.

"WADA has no grounds to punish the Russian athletes whose doping tests were positive for meldonium," Mutko told R-Sport.

According to the sports minister, the fight against doping is aimed at protecting the "clean" athletes and punishing those who deliberately use illegal substances.

"In this case [with meldonium] we can see that it is impossible to prove the guilt of an athlete. As well as [the athlete’s] innocence, by the way. The drug has so far proven to be more complex and requires a serious study," Mutko added.

Meldonium is used in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union to treat heart conditions. The WADA says the drug is used to enhance an athlete's performance. Mutko estimates 40 Russian athletes have been implicated in meldonium use.

The controversy surrounding the use of meldonium will be resolved in the near future, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Tuesday.

Russian Sports Minister Expects 'Good News' in Meldonium Issue Soon
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160412/1037864726/russia-good-news-meldonium.html

12.04.2016 - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) placed meldonium on its banned substance list on January 1, 2016, saying the drug is used to enhance an athlete's performance. Mutko estimates 40 Russian athletes have been implicated in meldonium use.

"We will sort out meldonium, everything will be alright. This is a trap drug. I hope there will be good news in the near future," Mutko told reporters.

He noted that Russian sports continued to grow despite efforts to "work up" the issue.

"In principle, Russian sports are a leader. Any attempts to somehow tarnish it with doping scandals are not true. I am very pleased with how our athletes prepare and perform," Mutko said.

Meldonium is a Latvian-made anti-ischemic drug used in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union to treat heart conditions.

In March, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova admitted to having tested positive for the drug. Her statement was followed by more cases of Russian athletes found taking meldonium.

The number of Russian athletes testing positive for meldonium is on par with the corresponding figure in other countries, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said.

Russian Athletes Testing Positive for Meldonium on Par With Others
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160325/1036963083/russian-athletes-meldonium.html

25.03.2016 - Twenty-seven Russian athletes have tested positive for the recently banned substance known as meldonium, a figure on a par with athletes in other countries, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Friday.

"If you take a quantitative indicator, it is the same number of anti-doping laws violations as in other countries at around 200 per year. At the moment there are 27 people with meldonium and somewhere around 127 people worldwide," Mutko told R-Sport.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) placed meldonium, an anti-ischemic medication, on its list of banned substances on January 1 citing evidence it was being used to enhance performance.

Dmitry Peskov said that a full chain of events leading to the latest doping scandal in Russian sports should be restored without emotions to avoid similar incidents among Russian athletes.

Kremlin Urges 'Utmost Care' Investigating Sports Meldonium Scandal
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160322/1036725567/russia-doping-scandal-meldonium.html

22.03.2016 - A full chain of events leading to the latest doping scandal in Russian sports should be restored without emotions to avoid similar incidents among Russian athletes, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

"Let us not forget that the President urged to find out what was the cause of the meldonium scandal with the utmost care. It is necessary to restore the chain without emotions, to ensure our athletes are prevented from a recurrence of similar cases," Peskov told reporters.

Russian athletes have not passed new Meldonium drug test during a national championship, a source familiar with the situation told R-Sport on Monday

Testing Positive: Four Russian Athletes Burned By New Meldonium Ban
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160321/1036644841/athlets-meldonium-wada-test.html

21.03.2016 - Four Russian track and field athletes tested positive for the recently banned substance Meldonium during a national championship in late February, a source familiar with the situation told R-Sport on Monday.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned the anti-ischemic drug on January 1, 2016, due to evidence it was being used to enhance performance.

Several top athletes, including tennis star Maria Sharapova, have recently tested positive for the substance.

R-Sport quoted Russian sprinter Nadezhda Kotlyarova disclosing on Sunday she had requested anti-doping regulators to unseal and analyze her second sample after the first sample had detected 25 nanograms of Meldonium

Evidence indicates Russian tennis start Maria Sharapova’s use of a recently banned substance was unintentional, her lawyer said Wednesday.

No Evidence Whatsoever’ Sharapova Used Banned Substance Intentionally
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160310/1036043011/sharapova-unintentional-doping.html

10.03.2016 - Sharapova said on Monday she tested positive for meldonium, which her family doctor prescribed as Mildronate since 2006 to treat her health conditions. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added meldonium to the list of banned substances on January 1 after a year on its monitoring program.

"There is no evidence whatsoever that this was intentional on Maria’s behalf," John Haggerty told The Daily Telegraph in a telephone interview.

Haggerti contended that a theoretical four-year maximum penalty could be cut by half based on that argument.

"I believe that there are substantial mitigating factors that require a further reduction from two years down to significantly below that," he stressed.

Asked whether Sharapova could have her penalty reduced under the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), Haggerty said he was not allowed to discuss the issue, but added that "Maria and I are looking at all of her options."

"Maria’s medical records, which will be presented to the ITF [International Tennis Federation], do make it clear that the medical treatment was necessary and recommended by her doctor. And the dosage Maria was taking was substantially less than any dosage that has been linked with the performance-enhancing attributes of mildronate," Haggerti stressed.

The counsel further sought to "disabuse" the notion that Sharapova used the substance daily for 10 years, suggesting that the dosage was limited to four to six weeks, two to three times a year.

ITF said it would provisionally suspend Sharapova on March 12, with a first hearing in her case reportedly scheduled to be held in London on March 23.

Russian figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova announced Monday she also had tested positive for meldonium. The following day, reports emerged that short-track speed-skater Semion Elistratov, speed skater Pavel Kulizhnikov and national volleyball team member Alexander Markin also had tested positive for meldonium.

WADA classifies meldonium as a metabolic modulator that increases athletes' endurance and shortens post-exercise rehabilitation time, as well as being shown to enhance the activation of central nervous system functions.

Russia continues to oppose the politicization of sports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday in regard to the recent doping scandal involving Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova.

Kremlin on Sharapova Doping Scandal: Russia Slams Politicization of Sports
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160309/1035999447/kremlin-sharapova-doping.html

On Monday, Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, said she tested positive for meldonium, medicine added to the list of banned substances on January 1, 2016. She said her family doctor began issuing meldonium, also known as mildronate, in 2006 because of the health issues she had.

"We continue to insist that sports should always remain outside politics and that attempts of politicizing sports, attempts to use sports as some sort of a political instrument to reach one or another goal is destructive for sports, international sports. It is unacceptable and unjustifiable," Peskov told journalists.

The 28-year-old is ranked as the 6th best tennis player in the world by the Women's Tennis Association, and ranked number 1 in singles on five separate occasions. Born in Siberia, she has played professionally since 2001, when she was only 14-years-old.

Sharapova is the only Russian to hold the career Grand Slam, and earned Russia a silver medal for women's singles during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

According to the Kremlin spokesman, there have been several cases of athletes and sports officials being taken down, including the recent scandal involving former FIFA head Joseph Blatter.

 

[Beau]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

I sense that there's more to this story than meets the eye.

Yeah, it's more Russia-bashing form the West. Doping is widespread, cheating in athletics is common. The NYT is focusing on Russia because that paper is the tool of the elites to spread their anti-Russian agenda. As if the Americans don't do the same thing. Please.

 

[Renaissance]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

People may also remember that the Sochi games were held just prior to the Western backed coup in Ukraine. Russia was in the spot light and it was an opportunity for the West to turn up the propaganda in order to enter into a new phase of increased and quite rabid global aggression. I think it's highly probable that this situation has some nasty players involved.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

People may also remember that the Sochi games were held just prior to the Western backed coup in Ukraine. Russia was in the spot light and it was an opportunity for the West to turn up the propaganda in order to enter into a new phase of increased and quite rabid global aggression. I think it's highly probable that this situation has some nasty players involved.

Some sources claim, this is what the U.S. and NATO were planning with their coup of Ukraine, so they could attempt to take over Russia.

.... the US intended to occupy Russia's strategically objective capital, Moscow. The initial plan was that the US backed "Euromaidan" would draw Ukraine into its sphere of influence, and that the Russian naval bases in Crimea would be transferred to the US Navy, as Ukraine becomes a NATO member. The invasion of Russia was set to start from the territory of Ukraine. It should be taken into consideration that Lugansk, for example, is only 600 km from Moscow. The initial plan was overturned by the successful referendum that decided Crimea’s re-unification with Russia and, subsequently due to the civil war in Donbass, the Americans can no longer launch any military aggression against Russia from Ukraine.

Therefore, the US’ plan was revised, and the Baltic states were designated to be the new offensive starting zone. For this reason, the US has recently put pressure on Sweden and Finland to join NATO, whose territory could be used for maneuvers in the challenge against Russia. Moscow is only 600 km from the border with Latvia and is not protected by any natural barriers that could put obstacles in the path of any invasion from a military point of view.

http://katehon.com/article/natos-future-blitzkrieg-against-russia-battle-air-supremacy

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

Wonder also, if the timing of highlighting this Russian doping scandal now, with it being connected to the Sochi Olympic games - is to mask - what the same players are doing in connection with the Brazil Olympics and intended coup of President Dilma Rousseff?

As Predicted, Brazil and its Olympics Embroiled in CIA Fallout
http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/as-predicted-brazil-and-its-olympics-embroiled-in-cia-fallout/

Over the past months, we’ve written several articles on Brazil and US destabilization of that massive country, including its Olympics.

We wrote that the US had initiated a Cold War against the BRICS … Russia, China and Brazil in particular.

When it came to Brazil, we clearly stated that the US and the CIA were behind the country’s political chaos.

And now President Dilma Rousseff is being forced from office. Meanwhile, the interim president is very obviously an ally of Washington.

We also indicated that the Brazil Olympics would suffer as a consequence of DC’s Brazilian takeover.

In fact, our prediction that the Brazil Olympics themselves was a good bit ahead of the proverbial curve.

In the past week or so, there have been more and more stories in the mainstream media commenting on the difficulties that Brazil’s Olympics are facing.

How did we know this beforehand?

We analyzed Western media propaganda. We sorted through the media trends and made a determination as to where they were headed.

In Covert US Operations Undermine Brazil Olympics, we wrote this:


Brazil is under covert attack from global elites using the US as a regional proxy, and now its upcoming Rio Olympics may be injured as a result.

The results: possibly a reduced Olympics, even one where certain events are delayed or cancelled.

… Without overt and covert US involvement, the scandal would long since have died away – as it seems to touch virtually every major politician on either side of the aisle.

But those investigating the scandal have ties to US intelligence. And the idea is to use the scandal to create a more docile Brazil.

Most recently a prominent former Brazil footballer – Rivaldo – warned visitors to stay away from the Rio Olympics. And headlines have been splashed around the world claiming that the Zika virus is prevalent in Rio and that women can fall victim to it.

Rio was already giving away tickets to the Olympics. It will have to give away a lot more of them now.

More from Telesur on the larger political issues: A 2015 document, reported in various Russian news agencies, addressed the possibility of U.S. intelligence agency involvement in the parliamentary coup against President Dilma Rousseff.

“It is quite possible that the CIA is involved in the plan to stage riots in Brazil nationwide,” the Russian news outlets said in a 2015 report. One article by Pravda explains that over the past few years, BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have become a significant geopolitical threat to the interests of the United States.

The report added that one of Washington’s biggest worries is Rousseff’s support for creating a new world reserve currency, as well as the threat BRICS poses to the U.S. dollar.

Some of this is very good analysis, but in other ways it doesn’t penetrate far enough. The BRICs, after all, are basically constructs of the West. Brazil certainly is.

Its economics, political structure and recent industrial success all involved Western support.

So why does Washington turn on Brazil now?

We explained this previously HERE.


How is it that the West is entering into a new Cold War with countries that were essentially nursed into their current success and power by Western elite interests?

Having been painstakingly created by the West from an economic standpoint, these three huge countries (and perhaps India too) will now provide determined opposition to the Western model much as did the USSR before its mysterious collapse.

Are we looking at a new Cold War … Or Cold War propaganda?

Are we facing political history … Or a super-sized Hegelian dialectic?

And what would be the synthesis? A merger of all parties concerned into a truly global leadership structure?

From our point of view, the Cold War now expanding against the BRICs is just one more dialectical tool. The real reason for the upheaval in Brazil is only secondarily about Washington reasserting its dominance over its “back yard.”

The real reason is very simply that internationalism expands via confrontation. And that is why the upcoming decades will be defined by a phony face-off between the BRICs and the West, specifically, Washington and London.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

The Russian Sports Ministry has announced that it is considering a lawsuit in connection with an article that appeared in the New York Times, alleging that Russian athletes engaged in doping prior to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

Russian Sports Ministry May Sue New York Times Over Doping Accusations
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160514/1039594517/nyt-russian-doping-olympics.html

Deputy Minister Yury Nagornykh told reporters on Friday that the Ministry and sports authorities are currently working through judicial aspects regarding the story and are considering legal action.

Nagornykh stated that, like every other country, Russia maintained a strict preparation program for the Olympic Games in Sochi. The program had clear goals, transparent means to an end and included a list of potential medalists.

"We worked with a Canadian consulting company which summed up every season's results and estimated how many athletes can potentially win a medal" Nagornykh explained, emphasizing that there is no "doping program" in Russia, as alleged by the US paper.

"There has never been a ‘doping program' in Russian sport. There was no doping prior the Olympics, or during the Olympics, or after," he said, cited by Regnum.

On Thursday, the New York Times published a report citing the former chief of Russia's anti-doping laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, who claims that 66 Russian athletes participated in a so-called doping program allegedly launched prior to the Olympic Games in Sochi.

Russian athletes and sports authorities were outraged with the report, calling it "total nonsense."

"Our athletes at the Olympics acted fair and square, with dignity…" cross-country skier Alexander Legkov, who won two medals in Sochi, told Russian Match TV. "What doping? He [Rodchenkov] talks about some [doping] cocktails mixed with alcohol, it's nonsense."

Many athletes found the "doping plus alcohol" mix allegations both insulting and ludicrous.

"Athletes drink Chivas before competing? I can't take it seriously," said cross-country skier Sergey Ustiugov, who participated in the Sochi Olympics.

Many condemned the report, noting that it primarily consisted of statements by Rodchenkov that are not supported by fact.

"All this is nonsense, defamation against Russian athletes who performed at the Olympics," said gold medal winner Alexander Zubkov, one whom Rodchenkov accused of doping. "This is unacceptable. I'm not going to discuss this nonsense. If there are facts, we will discuss this."

A third sportsman named in the article, skeleton champion Alexander Tretyakov, said he had never met Rodchenkov.

"All methods are used in such political games. And no one pays attention to the dignity of those who are accused," he said.

In 2015 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published a report accusing Grigory Rodchenkov of receiving bribes from athletes to suppress positive doping tests. Rodchenkov was accused of destroying 1,417 samples requested by the investigation and promptly left office when WADA demanded his resignation. He has been living in Los Angeles since January.

According to Nagornykh, the article's authors have not provided a list of athletes included in the alleged doping program, despite a request from the Russian Sports Ministry.

 

[Keit]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

I sense that there's more to this story than meets the eye.

Yeah, it's more Russia-bashing form the West. Doping is widespread, cheating in athletics is common. The NYT is focusing on Russia because that paper is the tool of the elites to spread their anti-Russian agenda. As if the Americans don't do the same thing. Please.

Yes, this topic is an ongoing news item in Russia. It all started in an overt way after accusing Sharapova in taking a "forbidden drug meldonium", which isn't a doping drug at all. It contains a precursor in the biosynthesis of carnitine, and is more of a preventive measure for all the strain athletes put their body through. Not saying that this drug is good, but also what athletes do to their bodies in general is far from ideal. But it isn't an issue here.

Apparently it was allowed for many years and then on 15th of September, 2015 suddenly added to the banned list, and many athletes were either unaware of this fact and didn't bother to check what their doctor was giving them, or stopped using it, but it didn't clear out completely from the body before they were checked for it.

Apparently it is one of the "drugs of choice" of the sport doctors who treat Russian athletes, that's why it was clear that the whole "anti-meldonium" campaign was an "anti-Russian sport campaign".

Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov's "revelations" are just the next step in this campaign.

 

[Beau]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

Yeah, Sharapova is just an innocent victim caught up in the bigger geopolitical games. It's really awful how the West will tear down someone's entire reputation without concern. This meldonium stuff is just nonsense, they created something out of thin air and then went after a prominent Russian athlete who wasn't doing anything on the level that so many athletes in the West do. It's just ridiculous.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

Russian heavyweight boxer Alexander Povetkin tested negative for meldonium in three Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) tests last month before testing positive, US sports media said Saturday.

Three of Povetkin's April Meldonium Tests Negative Before Positive One
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160514/1039626319/meldonium-povetkin-tests.html

Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinsky said Friday the meldonium content in the boxer’s blood was 70 nanograms per milliliter, or 7 percent of what anti-doping authorities banned.

"Povetkin was negative in WADA tests on 4/7, 4/8, 4/11. Positive on 4/27," Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) reporter Dan Rafael tweeted a day after breaking the story that Povetkin tested positive for meldonium.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added meldonium to its list of banned substances on January 1, 2016. In mid-April, WADA relaxed its rules to allow for below 1 microgram per milliliter of meldonium in samples submitted after March 1, and between 1 and 15 micrograms per milliliter in samples submitted before that date.

Ryabinsky added that Povetkin’s samples contained residues of the substance that the boxer had used in September 2015. Rafael described assertions that Povetkin used meldonium before it was banned as "fantasy."

Povetkin is due to fight the United States' Deontay Wilder for the World Boxing Championship heavyweight title next Saturday, May 21, in Moscow.

 

[luke wilson]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

Povetkin was due to fight for the world heavy weight belt this coming weekend as he was in mandatory challenger position. This will no longer be happening. In my opinion he is a better boxer than the current holder of the WBC belt, Deontoy Wilder - who has very little in the way of defensive abilities despite his amazing knock-out power.

This failed drugs test probably ensured that the belt stayed in the american's hand that little bit longer.

Also, I wonder if the Russian Football Team is about to get hit by this doping scandal. The European Football championships are right around the corner and will surely provide the PTB the perfect opportunity to pile on more sporting pain upon the Russian Federation. Furthermore, I doubt the PTB would want England to lose to Russia in their opening group stage match and so probably will pull out all sorts of tricks to get under their skins.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

German television broadcaster ARD will show a new documentary about alleged doping abuse in Russian sport on June 8, German journalist Hajo Seppelt said in his official twitter account on Monday.

German ARD to Show New Documentary About Alleged Russian Doping Abuse
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160530/1040478676/doping-germany-russia-documentary.html

30.05.2016 - In late 2014 and later in March 2016, ARD showed a three-part-documentary "The Doping Secret: How Russia Creates Champions" claiming systematic doping use by Russian athletes. Following the release of the film, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched an investigation into the allegations of doping abuse in Russian sports.

In November 2015, WADA presented a report, accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations and recommended the country be banned from international athletics competitions, which then led to the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) suspension from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The question of whether to allow Russian athletes to participate in Rio Olympics 2016 will be decided by IAAF in Vienna on June 17.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

Just a thought, wonder if this hyped-up doping scandal might be a diversion to help mask a serious scandal with the FIFA?

Three former high-ranking FIFA authorities – ex-President Sepp Blatter and ex-Secretaries General Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner – awarded themselves an estimated $80 million in secret annual pay raises and illegal bonuses.

Amid Scandal, Ex-FIFA Execs ‘Illegally’ Awarded Themselves $80 Million
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160604/1040763177/Ex-FIFA-Execs-Illegally-Awarded-Themselves-Millions.html

According to law firm Quinn Emanuel, acting on FIFA's behalf, the three former highest-ranking officials of the sports organization paid themselves a enormous amount of money during their last five years in office, violating several Swiss laws.

"The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives totaling more than 79m Swiss francs in just the last five years," said Quinn Emanuel representative Bill Burck.

Evidence was obtained after police raided FIFA offices, including office of Markus Kattner, FIFA's German deputy secretary general, who was fired last week.

Criminal proceedings were opened by a Swiss court against Blatter and Valcke in September 2015 and March 2016, respectively. Both men are banned from participating in the organization for 6 and 12 years, respectively, by the FIFA ethics committee.

According to the new evidence, Blatter and Valcke conspired with Kattner to enrich themselves through a variety of methods, including extending contracts on terms that violate Swiss law; in particular, Valcke and Kattner's contracts obliged FIFA to pay them generous compensations — some $17 million and $10 million, respectively — if their employment was terminated, even if it was terminated via a legal procedure.

The conspirators also rewarded themselves for the upcoming 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 event in Qatar. In 2010, they rewarded themselves after the World Championship in South Africa, with no legal basis, according to lawyers.

The news comes at a time when FIFA is struggling to clear its name under the new presidency of Gianni Infantino. These efforts, however, are already severely undermined, as Infantino faces scrutiny in the Panama Papers leak, which revealed that the new FIFA president sold rights to a TV broadcasting firm to a company called Cross Trading, who in turn sold the rights to Teleamazonas, a company owned by Hugo Jinkis, who was indicted in the United States in May as part of an alleged £100 million fraud.

Infantino denies the corruption allegations, stating FIFA is not interested in what happens to its employees' broadcasting rights after they have been sold.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will demonstrate the highest level of organization for both football players and guests of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Russia to Host 2018 FIFA World Cup on Top Level - Putin
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160601/1040624869/putin-fifa-2018.html

Russia will ensure outstanding organization of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

"I am sure we will demonstrate the highest level of organization for both football players and guests of the competition. All of them should feel that they attend an outstanding football fest," Putin said as he spoke at the launch of World Cup volunteer program.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 in 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Volgograd. According to the event's organizing committee, Russia will spend more than $10 billion on the football contest.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

The Russian team is pushing ahead with preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil despite the accusations.

Kremlin considers doping accusations against Russian athletes slander
http://tass.ru/en/sport/880719

The Kremlin will consider doping abuse accusations against Russian athletes as slander until it gets proofs to the contrary, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"The team is systematically getting ready for the Olympic teams. True, campaigns of slander do to take place, but they don’t fan tensions," Peskov said, when asked if another portion of groundless allegations about doping abuse increased the risks for Russian athletes.

Peskov pointed out that Russia was categorically against the use of doping in sports.

"At the same time this does not mean that we are ready to accept some groundless statements or charges before we hear any sensible proof or confirmations of this slander," Peskov said. "We will be regarding this as the absolute calumny."

He recalled that "The Russian president had sent an absolutely clear message to the effect the use of any doping in sports is absolutely unacceptable for us. Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said state that too. Russia is categorically against this and it unconditionally condemns the use of doping there where it has been proven."

"We are categorically against the attempts to use to exposed cases of doping abuse to cast a shadow on our athletes who participate in sports competitions in a fair way," Peskov said.

He also pointed to the fact that "the president and the sports minister had repeatedly stated they were participating in anti-doping activities on the basis of very tight interaction with the corresponding international structures."

Peskov emphasized Putin’s statement in favor of very tight cooperation with foreign partners in anti-doping agencies to investigate all doping abuse suspicions.

MOSCOW, June 8. Russian hammer thrower Kirill Ikonnikov, the 2008 and 2011 champion of Russia, has been suspended for life from all sports-related activities for violations of anti-doping regulations, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Wednesday.

Russian hammer thrower suspended for life over doping abuse — sports minister
http://tass.ru/en/sport/880740

"We have registered two positive doping tests over six months," Mutko told journalists. "One girl injected something into her nose, but her situation is likely to be resolved. Ikonnikov, meanwhile, has been banned for life."

Hammer thrower Ikonnikov finished fifth at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, however, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) later requested to collect a doping sample from the Russian athlete.

The doping sample tested positive for banned steroid substance Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone and Ikonnikov was handed a two-year suspension starting from November 2, 2012.

In line with the regulations, in case an athlete caught taking performance enhancing drugs for the second time then he or she are subject for a life suspension from all sports-related activities.

Criminal probes may be launched regarding Russia’s doping scandals

According to the minister, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating all doping-related cases involving national athletes and criminal probes are likely to be launched eventually.

"We are under some sort of a media attack," Mutko said. "However, the Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating all facts and I believe it is possible that criminal probes are to follow."

German broadcaster ARD's latest doping documentary is a sign of attention and support for Russian sport, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Wednesday, calling for a better doping control system.

Russian Sports Minister: New Doping Documentary Sign of Support for Sport
http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160608/1040986760/russia-doping-documentary.html

ARD is set to present a documentary later in the day allegedly confirming that Mutko was personally involved in covering up a doping violation committed by a top Russian footballer.

"I consider this a sign of support and attention for Russian sport. Everything is quite simple, there is need to establish a normal system of doping control," Mutko told reporters.

 

[Ca.]

Re: NYT article about Russian doping scandal at the Sochi Olympic Games

I sense that there's more to this story than meets the eye.

Yeah, it's more Russia-bashing form the West. Doping is widespread, cheating in athletics is common. The NYT is focusing on Russia because that paper is the tool of the elites to spread their anti-Russian agenda. As if the Americans don't do the same thing. Please.

Yep................These accusations are the true sign's of desperation by the Consortium. What next? How about some dumpster diving for some real garbage.

For some athletes, the risk of losing—or even being less than the best—is worse than the many consequences of doping in professional sports, and for decades, performance-enhancing drug controversies have made headlines around the world. Other athletes have garnered media attention, criminal charges and sporting suspensions for their recreational drug use.

Biography.com examines some of the world's greatest athletes to ever fall from fame, whose names have been tarnished by drugs scandals, including Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Marion Jones, Andre Agassi,

Floyd Landis and Lance Armstrong.

Michael Phelps Swimming, Athlete (1985–)

Hope Solo Soccer Player, Athlete (1981–)

Tyson Gay Track and Field Athlete (1982–)

Justin Gatlin Track and Field Athlete (1982–)

Michael Vick Athlete, Football Player (1980–)

Michael Phelps Swimming, Athlete (1985–)

Hope Solo Soccer Player, Athlete (1981–)

Tyson Gay Track and Field Athlete (1982–)

Justin Gatlin Track and Field Athlete (1982–)

Michael Vick Athlete, Football Player (1980–)

Barry Bonds Baseball Player (1964–)
5.1 BALCO scandal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bonds#BALCO_scandal

On November 15, 2007, Bonds was indicted on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice as it relates to the government investigation of BALCO.[158]

On February 14, 2008 a typo in court papers filed by Federal prosecutors erroneously alleged that Bonds tested positive for steroids in November 2001, a month after hitting his record 73rd home run. The reference was meant instead to refer to a November 2000 test that had already been disclosed and previously reported.[159] The typo sparked a brief media frenzy.[160]

His trial for obstruction of justice was to have begun on March 2, 2009, but jury selection was postponed due to 11th-hour appeals by the prosecution.[161] The trial commenced on March 21, 2011, in U. S. District Court, Northern District of California, with Judge Susan Illston presiding.[162] He was convicted on April 13, 2011 on the obstruction of justice charge, for giving an evasive answer to a question under oath.[13] His sentence did not include prison. The conviction was initially upheld by a three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2013,[149] but a larger panel of the court voted 10-1 to overturn the conviction on April 22, 2015.[14]

Florence Joyner Track and Field Athlete (1959–1998)

Roy Jones Jr. Boxer (1969–)

Shane Mosley Boxer (1971–)

Marion Jones Famous Basketball Players, Track and Field Athlete (1975–)

Lance Armstrong Cyclist, Philanthropist (1971–)

Alex Rodriguez Baseball Player (1975–)

Jose Canseco Baseball Player (1964–)

Vince McMahon Business Leader, Television Personality (1945–)

Manny Ramirez Baseball Player (c. 1972–)

Hulk Hogan Animal Rights Activist, Athlete, Reality Television Star (1953–)

Mark McGwire Baseball Player (1963–)

Jennifer Capriati Tennis Player, Athlete (1976–)

Andre Agassi Tennis Player (1970–)

Roger Clemens Baseball Player (1962–)

Floyd Landis Cyclist (1975–)

Sammy Sosa Baseball Player (1968–)

Lawrence Taylor Athlete, Football Player (1959–)

Doping Scandal of East Germany in the 1970s
_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvKQ2kVBwTU