Russian athletes, who were already been banned from competing internationally last year, after an investigation carried out by former Word Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Dick Pound found evidence of state-sponsored doping in the country, are unlikely to participate in the Rio Olympics. The former WADA chief Pound believes that the IAAF will not risk their reputation by letting the Russians compete in the Olympics later this year.
"The Russians seem to assume the controversy will disappear and there should be no question of their participation (in the Olympics) in Rio," Pound was quoted as saying by AFP.
"My guess is that Russia may not make it back for Rio. The IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) and WADA are not going to risk their reputations by rolling over and playing dead."
Current WADA president Craig Reedie said at the same event where Pound spoke, that the agency will further investigate athletes from other sports as well. If they are to find any evidence of doping, stern action will be taken against those athletes as well.
"If evidence comes to light as part of the independent testing programme under way in Russia and our discussions with RUSADA (the Russian Anti-doping Agency) and if those discussions warrant further investigation, then we will take action," Reedie added.
Reedie was also disappointed, as he feels corruption and doping are the two elements that are just not leaving sports. Last year, a FIFA corruption scandal shook the entire world, while the IAAF and various other organisations have been constantly embroiled in issues as well.
"The public's confidence in sport was shattered in 2015 like never before. The public mood has soured, cynicism has prevailed and there's a general feeling that they're all at it," Reedie said.
