These past two weeks I've been watching the biathlon world championship (what a great sport : everything can change with every shooting part, and again with every skiing part). They've been excellent world championships, except for the first men's race (the sprint) which was won by Russian biathlete Loginov. The race itself was entertaining but Loginov's performance made everyone uneasy. First because he was suspended from 2014 to 2016 for doping, and second because his skiing times were much, much better than in the previous months (in mid january he lost a sprint to Fourcade by 44s, this time he beat him by 20s, both times neither of them missed a shot). Loginov's skiing times since his victory last week have been good too, but he missed too many shots to compete for victory.
It could have stayed that way, with only uneasiness about his performance, but this morning the Italian police went to the Russian delegation's hotel with a warrant, took some laptops and phones and interviewed the president of the Russian biathlon federation as well as Loginov's personal trainer.
I have no idea if Loginov cheated during those championships. Maybe he just focused on getting his peak in february, and found a way to make his skis better.
What's more important though, is how to treat doping. Loginov was suspended for 2 years, but ever since his return any special performance by him is seen as suspicious. I'm sure those who finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th of the sprint are thinking about whether they'll get their medal back in a couple of years (or maybe days ?). Even if he isn't cheating the situation is bad for the sport and for the athletes. Does it mean that those who are found guilty should be suspended for life ?
It also rises a separate question about what to do with russian athletes. Russia has been hit very hard with suspensions, like not being able to participate in international competitions like the olympics, but it doesn't look like they're doing anything to make it better.
Situations similar to Loginov's are also happening in cycling with cyclists like Valverde who came back after 2 years of suspension being as good as they were before. And people like Bjarne Riis, known for managing cycling teams that used doping, getting a new contract to build a competitive cycling team with his former associates.
And that's just with the sports that are actively fighting doping. Football (the world version, not the US version) isn't doing much to fight it.
So what do you think, should the cheaters be banned for life ? Should countries known for cheating be entirely banned for some time ? Are some sports putting their head in the sand ?
It could have stayed that way, with only uneasiness about his performance, but this morning the Italian police went to the Russian delegation's hotel with a warrant, took some laptops and phones and interviewed the president of the Russian biathlon federation as well as Loginov's personal trainer.
I have no idea if Loginov cheated during those championships. Maybe he just focused on getting his peak in february, and found a way to make his skis better.
What's more important though, is how to treat doping. Loginov was suspended for 2 years, but ever since his return any special performance by him is seen as suspicious. I'm sure those who finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th of the sprint are thinking about whether they'll get their medal back in a couple of years (or maybe days ?). Even if he isn't cheating the situation is bad for the sport and for the athletes. Does it mean that those who are found guilty should be suspended for life ?
It also rises a separate question about what to do with russian athletes. Russia has been hit very hard with suspensions, like not being able to participate in international competitions like the olympics, but it doesn't look like they're doing anything to make it better.
Situations similar to Loginov's are also happening in cycling with cyclists like Valverde who came back after 2 years of suspension being as good as they were before. And people like Bjarne Riis, known for managing cycling teams that used doping, getting a new contract to build a competitive cycling team with his former associates.
And that's just with the sports that are actively fighting doping. Football (the world version, not the US version) isn't doing much to fight it.
So what do you think, should the cheaters be banned for life ? Should countries known for cheating be entirely banned for some time ? Are some sports putting their head in the sand ?
