agence france-presse
Lausanne, Dec 8: The global corruption and doping scandals engulfing sports this year are an opportunity for organisations to undergo change and earn back lost credibility, the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach stated here Tuesday.
On the first anniversary of the IOC’s’ Agenda 2020 Reforms’ aimed at making the Games a more attractive and transparent prospect, Bach said transparency was necessary for all sports organisations as was the need for stronger national government involvement in catching and punishing doping cheats.
Bach has blamed the doping scandals involving Russian athletes, corruption allegations within the World Athletics Federation (IAAF) as well as FIFA and a scandal related to the 2006 soccer World Cup in Germany as some of the major reasons for Hamburg citizens rejecting the bid. Earlier in November, Hamburg withdrew from the fray of five bidders for the 2024 Games.
“Yes, these times are difficult for sport. But yes, it is also an opportunity to renew the trust in this power of sport to change the world for the better,” Bach said. “You only learn from your mistakes and this is the right time to change.
“Protecting clean athletes goes hand in hand with ensuring that the environment in which athletes operate is safe from corrupting influences,” asserted Bach, adding the IOC had already made changes in auditing and financial reporting, term limits for IOC members and introducing ethics officers.
While the scandals are not directly linked to the Olympics, some of them may affect it, as medals may need to be withdrawn and reallocated and athletes disqualified at the end of the doping investigations.
Russia was suspended by the IAAF last month after a report by a Word Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) special commission exposed widespread state-sponsored doping.
“Zero tolerance means all nations and all sports have to be compliant with WADA’s rules. On this front, sport requires the support of governments,” Bach informed. “Governments need to make sure that their national anti-dope authorities are WADA-compliant.”