Why Mack Attacked

Photo: Rio acquatics stadium – Source: www.piviso.com

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) soft stance on doping has resulted in fans and athletes losing faith in the games.

Declaring his 400m freestyle victory was a “win for the good guys” after defeating Chinese swimmer Sun Yang, Mack Horton’s claim was of pure frustration.

Horton’s post-race comments weren’t isolated as the 20-year-old from Melbourne consistently spoke about his stance on doping in the build-up to his showdown with Yang.

The Chinese swimmer tested positive for trimetazidine in 2014 – a drug that was added to WADA’s banned list that year before being downgraded the following year. Yang was banned for three months and fined less than $1000, and was able to serve his suspension before Chinese authorities publicly announced his doping infringement.

Leading up to the Rio Games, Russia was found to be administering performance-enhancing drugs to their athletes in a state-sponsored doping program.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended a blanket ban on Russian athletes. The IOC chose only to ban Russians who had served a doping suspension, including whistleblower Yulia Stepanova.

In punishing individual athletes rather than the country, the IOC believed the athletes were ultimately responsible. Yet the IOC allowed athletes from other nations who have served doping bans such as Sun Yang, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell to compete in Rio.

The double standards are evident. The IOC believes it’s unacceptable to dope even once…but only if you are Russian.

In an attempt to keep the biggest names at the Olympics, the IOC has, in the eyes of many, devalued the achievements of every athlete who wins an Olympic medal. The question will be asked: “Was that athlete doping?”

No wonder Horton is frustrated.