Thomas Bach: Russian federations bans could result from allegations
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Olympic president Thomas Bach said proof of doping allegations could lead to Russian federations bans, according to the BBC.
Allegations have recently surfaced surrounding claims that Russian intelligence agents were used to cover up cheating at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 by posing as anti-doping agents.
Bach said if the allegations are true, they would represent an “unimaginable level of criminality,” and that the IOC has a “zero tolerance policy not only with regard to individual athletes, but to all their entourage within its reach.”
Reports of state-sponsored doping first emerged in November, published by the World Anti-Doping Agency. One of the chemists involved, Grigory Rodchenkov, spoke to the Times earlier this month, and said he worked under the government to assist athletes in the use of banned performance-enhancers and the elusion of drug tests, including at the Sochi Olympics. At least 15 medalists were implicated in that report.
• Report: U.S. Justice Department investigating Russian doping
The United States Department of Justice is currently investigating the scandal.
