Triple Testing For Drug Usage In Russia
Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko became world famous when he read mysteriuos “From de botom ov mai hart” written for his acceptance speech for hosting FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018.
It was a transcription from English in Cyrillic alphabet typed for Mutko who had no knowledge of English whatsoever. It impressed even President Putin who was able to learn how to play piano, to deep sea dive or to play hockey within 24 hours or less.
Putin gave a personal gift for Mutko’s birthday – a soft cover issue of Russian English phrasebook and dictionary.
Those were times of celebrations, jokes and loud laughter in Kremlin.
Now, with the meldonium scandals and Russian athletes being banned from Olympics, Kremlin rhetorics changed drastically.
“No more Games? No more games! Exterminate doping from our sports!” – with less than two months to the opening ceremony, Putin assigned Mutko to resolve the issue.
“Absolutely! Russian Olympians are now going to be tested for taking drugs three times -before, during, and after taking them!” promised Mutko this time.
Can the problem of doping in sports be resolved in 40 days? Only if we begin our reports with these “From de botom ov mai hart”…
Only Klishina the long jumper, has been cleared to compete in track and field and that under the neutral Olympic flag, not Russia’s. How about the weightlifting team, it seems they are out too. Same for Ilia Ilin and most of the Kasach team both men and women. The composition of the Olympics are going to be interesting, at least in weightlifting. Most world and Olympic records are going to be safe at least they is a chance that most athletes will be clean for the games. The fact is that PED’s are pervasive in sports where there is money involved regardless of the amount. Make the Olympics amateur again and establish separate games for professionals; called them the Corporate Games and if they want to blow out their internal organs with drugs, let them do so.
Great thoughts. Interesting to hear! I think modern Olympics evolved to something that is quiet different from the initial roots, even from what it was in the end of 20th century. It will be interesting to find out what the Games will be in the upcoming years.