LowerSaxony

Of course they might be good enough to qualify on a world level (however, I doubt it for Argentina's Handball team), but that is not the point. The point is that in most American continental qualifiers there are only very few competitive teams, so the only World class team gets basically a free pass. For example: Women's football. Of course, USA and CAN are world class and it is absolutely desirable to have them at the Olympics. But the qualifier is ridiculous: Two competitive teams compete for two direct qualification places, wow. In Europe, however, there are six or seven World class teams competing for three places. That sucks and is beyond comparability. And please, don't come around with "Costa Rica improved a lot lately" ... CRC would not even have a chance for qualification to the European Championships. Nearly the same in Pan American hockey: One very good team (ARG), one good team (CAN) competing for one direct place is not comparable with the depth (4-5 very good teams) in European hockey.

Two more positive retests from London 2012: Steeplechase European Champion Gülcan Mingir from Turkey and Klodiana Shala fron Albania. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1090223/athletics-2012-doping-ban I was thinking some minutes about the following question, but I don't really know the answer: Who was the last Turkish-born athlete (in Athletics) of international class that was never tested positive for doping? First, I thought it should be Esref Apak, only to find to out that he actually had a positive test in 2013

That'd explain SO MANY things!

He is in deed a German. Together with Julian Autenrieth he won a Bronze at 2013 youth European Championships in the 470er class. Ironically, the Oceania quota place of ASA would have been reallocated to Germany (16th place at WCh in 2019).

Unsurprisingly, IWF rejects the allegations: https://www.iwf.net/2020/01/06/iwf-rejects-ard-allegations/

All effort regarding the enforcement of doping violations are worth nothing as long as top stars and competitors from certain countries are simply not tested out of competitions. International championships on that basis are just ridiculous. While ARD had no documents from 2019, it was said that HUNADO is still responsible for most of the doping tests.

I hope you are right. However, the new leaf has officially been turned prior to the OG 2016, when RUS and BUL were completely banned. ARD only had access to documents covering doping tests until 2018, so it is unclear if is really a change. The IWF president is still Tamas Ajan - hard to believe that he has been corrupt and supported doping from 2000 (his installation as a president) to 2018 and then out of the blue stopped being corrupt.

New coverages by ARD (German TV) on doping and corruption in Weightlifting (which end the most naive hopes that there would ever by a paradigm shift in Weightlifting or IWF): IWF president Tamas Ajan supported and benefited from corruption and supported doping over decades: (Sources are only available in German: https://www.sportschau.de/hintergrund/Doping-Gewichtheben-Praesident-droht-Strafverfolgung-100.html The most important points: 23 Million Dollars on IWF accounts vanished, Ajan was the only one with access to these accounts Certain countries and top athletes were basically not tested out of competition (including Georgian top lifter and past doping offender Talakhadse) 42 of 62 Russian medal winners between 2007 and 2018 had ZERO out of competition tests 77% of the doping tests worldwide between 2008 and 2017 were conducted by the Hungarian doping group (HUNADO) - allegations claim that some doping inspectors mandated by HUNADO were paid money by athletes/associations, in return third persons gave urine samples instead of the athletes who were supposed to be tested. For example all 101 doping tests of athletes from Moldova between 2008 and 2017 were conducted by HUNADO (no positive tests). Ajan strongly opposed against the plan that the doping tests at the WCh 2015 in Houston would be organized by USADA. However, the USADA conducted the tests in the end, finding 24 athletes who failed doping tests - more than ever at WCh. Moreover, 2012 OG Bronze medalist Rattikan Gulnoi from Thailand was filmed with hidden camera admitting doping since 2011 and talking about systematic doping in Thailand, including doping of 13 year olds. https://www.sportschau.de/doping/Thailands-Olympiadritte-gibt-Einblicke-in-Doping-100.html It is sad for the countries which support anti-doping but I personally think that there are no hopes for this sport in the near future. Will be interesting how IOC reacts on this one.

Update from the aftermaths of the blood doping raids in Seefeld, earlier this year: Two German riders who both have competed in former editions of the Tour de France seem to be linked to the blood doping network. Names are not disclosed yet. Clear so far: One of them is still active. According to German media the accusations are related to the seasons 2012/2013 (at which time Andreas Klöden was still active ;-)). The only English source I found: https://cyclingtips.com/2019/12/two-german-riders-linked-to-blood-doping-ring/

Actually, ARD/ZDF (German public-law TV) invested a lot effort. We had (I think) three documentations only about Kenya. They talked to a lot of people who admit that doping is conducted. They even secretly filmed an athlete who competed in Doha while he was doing doping at his doctor. Sounds like too much effort, when you want to let someone get away with doping. However, they are lacking clear evidence for a state-sponsored doping system in Kenya. Of course, even the best investigative journalists needs to rely on whistle blowers etc.

I admit it is speculation at this time, but I bet they will at least have a team size similar to Rio (282). In Rio, they had only Klishina competing in Athletics. There will be at least 20-25 athletes this time. They will (likely) be allowed to compete in team sports. We all know how FINA handles doping. So.. if the clearance of athletes is again up to the federations (which is likely), then I do not see where Russia needs to cut their team severely?

If there are such documents, then: Go Russian hackers! I fully support uncovering any state-sponsored doping system and every athletes that used doping. However, I am sure that they try to do so ever since the first rumors about the Russian doping system came to light.

Sorry, I must have overread it. Would be great. You have any source for it?

Yes. Russian politics won over sports - again. Now, Russia is not allowed to use their flag and their anthem for 4 years. Wow. They will never recover from this. At the same time, they refused to uncover which athletes were doped when they manipulated their data and refused to cooperate with WADA. All these athletes are able to start in Tokyo. So basically, nothing happened. Russia will have a full team in Tokyo (maybe with few exceptions) under the label of neutral athletes. Russian propaganda now fires again the same old victimization campaign (we don't do doping, others do it as well, it's political etc.) and of course they will appeal on CAS in order to exploit the propaganda to the maximum, but to be honest: Nothing really happened which can change the doping problem in Russian sports. Russian sport officials should celebrate right now.

I think nobody would deny that Kenya has a severe doping problem. But in order to file a lawsuit like that against Russia, you need evidence that the state/government is clearly involved and supports doping - "looking away" is really hard to prove. In my opinion, this is what happens in Kenya: The state looks away and let the training groups do their doping. Ofc, by looking away, the state enables doping! And I think, this should be punished as well! But: It remains unclear whether the government forces doping or let their athletes compete only compete if they subordinate that doping system. Unless evidence for those issues comes to daylight, it is nearly impossible to ban the entire Kenyan federation. An appeal against a ban only on the basis of hints (even if there are tons of it in the Kenyan case...) would never be upheld by CAS. Never ever. Until then, it is only possible to ban single athletes. Let's hope that ARD is going to find evidence as they did in the Russian case. And as along as we have to wait for such evidence, the sports world is only able to ban those countries for which state-driven doping is proven - even if they are not the only "evil" in the world.

Agree. Was just a side note.

But in Rio 2016 it was up to the federations who was cleared and allowed to compete. If the same rules apply this time, she should be allowed to compete (which I fully support) as IAAF has "cleared" her. The "base in Russia" rule was not applied since Rio as far as I know, at least not by IAAF. However, this is just a guess as we are obviously lacking of details yet.

btw in German TV they said that OAR will not be reused, this time the team will be called "Neutral Athletes."

Why not? Even IAAF let her compete as she is not involved in any proven doping, nor mentioned in Mc Laren's report. Please elaborate your argument.

Again, letting the Kenyan case aside: What would you recommend to do with Russia?

Well, nearly everything we now about the Kenyan problem is BECAUSE ARD investigates. Hajo Seppelt, the main driver behind the ARD investigations, always points out the big problem in Kenya - why should ARD do all that effort when "they" (the entire Western world which is best connected onto all TV stations, ofc) want to let Kenya get away? But let the entire Kenyan case aside for a moment: We have a proven case of state-sponsored doping in Russia. What should the world of sports do with it? You didn't answered my question with your last comment. It's easy to call that case just "political" (the Serbian user did it, not you)... but it does not answer the question what to do with proven fraud! Edit: Nobody said that Russia is the only evil in the world. But considering from the perspective of sports, the Russian authorities ARE evil - and this needs to be punished, no matter who else is evil too

I think everybody's well aware about the doping problem in Kenya. It is questionable whether it its state-sponsored (authorities help athletes to get their drugs) or if they just look away, but whatever. The point is that there is simply not that clear evidence about a systematical doping as we have in the Russian case. Should we wait with punishment for a proven state-sponsored doping fraud until we have checked all other countries? If two burglars rob a bank and we have evidence for only one of them - should both be released just because it would be unfair to the burglar in prison? And moreover, I really don't see why you make an East-Western thing of it. There is no country in the world which has a better network in world sports than Russia. You really think they let Kenya go on purpose while they punish Russia? That's hilarious in my eyes.

It is my understanding that any event under the umbrella of a world federation is affected. That means, theoretically European Championships are not affected.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sport-doping-russia-uefa/euro-2020-matches-in-russia-not-affected-by-sanctions-wada-idUSKBN1Y11ZW

I highly doubt that this will affect team quota places. Like Pyoengchang 2018, "cleared" athletes will be allowed to form a team called Whatever Athletes from Russia. That is, Russia will keep that places. I do not see any hint that the opposite will happen (plus IOC won't allow that Russia loses its team quota places)