"Dick Pound"
Posted on 02/12/2022 6:31:12 PM PST by billorites
Russia may need an Olympic "timeout" as doping issues resurface after figure skating prodigy Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance at the Beijing Winter Games, senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound from Canada said.
Russian athletes at the Beijing Games are already not competing under their flag while carrying the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on their uniforms, and their anthem is not being played at any ceremonies, following sanctions imposed for the widespread doping across many sports exposed after the Sochi Games.
The 15-year-old Valieva became an early darling of the Beijing Games when she became the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics and helped the ROC win a team gold.
However, the International Testing Agency (ITA) said she tested positive for banned heart drug Trimetazidine in a urine sample collected by Russian authorities on Dec. 25.
The Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA imposed a provisional suspension on Valieva on Tuesday then lifted it a day after on appeal.
"At a certain point if they are absolutely incorrigible you end up with the position of take a country timeout," said Pound in a phone interview from Florida. "We could say we can help you. You got a problem. We can concentrate on it. Take a time out for one or two, or three Olympic Games until you get this under control."
Russia has acknowledged some shortcomings in its implementation of anti-doping rules, but denies running a state-sponsored doping program.
"The Russians don't help themselves because they have been absolutely unrepentant," said Pound. "They won't admit anything, they appeal every single decision."
"I think the approach probably has been too lenient to allow them to compete as the Russian Olympic Committee."
Valieva's failed drug test has reawakened global anger over Moscow's doping history and outrage over how a minor came to have a prohibited drug in her system. Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, 15, tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart medication before the Games, Russian media have reported. The positive test could cost Russia the team gold. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)
"There are all kinds of things going on and I'm sure the Russians have lawyered up and are trying anything and everything to control the damage," said Pound. "But how could you have possibly exposed her to that risk.
"This is not like a tainted supplement this is a non-therapeutic use of a fairly potent drug."
Pound said efforts to work with Russia and appease them have not worked and a different approach to the problem may be necessary.
"It's sort of appeasement, I forget who described it this way but appeasement is sort of like feeding the alligators and hoping you will be the last one they eat," he said.
By the way, toobin' is now a verb.
The sample was taken on December 25 but it took awhile for the lab to test it. There were people out from the lab because of Covid. I don’t blame the skater. She’s only fifteen and may not have known what she was taking. She needs to be disqualified though. Her competing isn’t fair to the other skaters.
When I was a teenager, we had a kid with the last name of Ball.
Her father was Dick Ball and they lived on Cox Street!
Not kidding!
The Russians are suffering from the cultural and spiritual trauma of 70 years of communism. Cheating was a necessary survival strategy in the USSR and it will be a long time before they recover and value honor, integrity, and truthfulness.
And as they struggle out of communism the Democrats want to plunge us into it...and they cheat as evidence of their commitment to the cause.
They couldn’t just call him Richard for once?
I always enjoyed the PA announcements in the Akron-Canton Airport in 1977: “Mr. Harry Mann, pick up the white courtesy telephone, please. Paging Mr. Hairy Man.”
"Dick Pound"
Not to be confused with that other illustrious member of the IOC, Johnny Deeper.
Oh, I believe it. There was a guy on my first ship, a Seaman (E3), whose last name was Seaman. On another ship, Seaman Pool. Both were ecstatic to make Petty Officer Third Class. As a tip to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, I’ll bet there are thousands of people named Mike Hunt.
I am so glad my name is fairly bland! Being in the military, if you have a name that sticks out, someone will hammer it down.
LOL..I knew this string would go the way it did. The only reason I clicked on it.
What were his parents smoking?
Something he was very proud of.
Try to check into a hotel with that name you would have better luck with I.P. Daily.
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