Not such a great summer for the Norwegian Ski Federation and Martin Johnsrud Sundby; now add Therese Johaug to that list. In this podcast episode, FasterSkier Editor-at-Large Chelsea Little discusses these doping cases and the recent IOC meetings where much was discussed, but perhaps not so much decided upon. Have a listen.
The declaration from the Olympic Summit in Lausanne makes clear that the International Olympic Committee has ideas about how anti-doping work should go forward, but it's unclear whether the IOC wants to make WADA truly independent, or to increase its own influence.
Although the IOC said in July that Russia should not host any international winter sports events due to their systematic doping violations and cheating at the 2014 Olympics, it apparently walked those guidelines back -- and now Russia has been awarded biathlon World Championships, despite the fact that the country is not currently in compliance with the WADA Code.
The IOC Executive Board ruled Sunday against a blanket ban on Russian athletes entering the Olympics following the biggest doping scandal in decades. More than the conclusion itself, the guidelines are confusing and unclear -- not to mention unfair to Russian athletes and to clean athletes around the world.
This morning, Professor Richard McLaren disclosed his findings after looking into claims of Russian state-sponsored doping and its cover-up. Here's a quick summary of his findings, which were enough to prompt WADA to call for Russian athletes in all sports to be banned from the 2016 Olympics.
With a week to go until the IOC members vote on whether to award the 2022 Olympic Games to Beijing or Almaty, a leading human rights nonprofit asserts that the IOC has no tools with which to enforce their vague mandate of “human dignity”.
You might not know what Sport Accord is, but the systematic behind-the-scenes and now public dismantling of the former association of international Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations has shown IOC President Bach's ruthless side. The positive aspects of his reform agenda had better be substantial and followed to their best conclusion.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland—In 20 minutes of self-directed comments to the press yesterday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach did not address the scandal rocking the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), where high-ranking soccer officials were arrested by Swiss authorities based on corruption charges brought by the United States Department of Justice. But Bach did make sure to point out the improvements in governance that have taken place at the IOC in the last 15...
After the Norwegian women's ski team wore black armbands in honor of Astrid Jacobsen's deceased brother, the IOC issued them a reprimand - which seemed, and was, tone-deaf. The organization is now building a specific mourning place in future Olympic Villages to be more friendly to grieving athletes.
The IOC Executive Board meets in Lausanne this week, and then all IOC members will have the chance to hear from the organizing committees of the Almaty and Beijing bids for the 2022 Winter Games. Members will vote in July. How are the bids shaking out, and what's going on in the Olympic movement? Read on.
In a coincidence of timing, the AP has uncovered illegal dumping of construction debris which threatens half the water supply to Sochi - just as the new Olympic city hosts IOC members for a conference on sport and the environment. As leaders discuss whether the Olympics can have a sustainable legacy, will they address these recent concerns?