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             Amid Meldonium Scandal, Russians Brace for Olympic Ban

   by Charles Maynes

   As a new doping scandal roiled the Russian sporting world, a decision
   whether to ban Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio Games over previous
   violations went into overtime.

   On Friday, the International Association of Athletics Federations
   (IAAF) postponed a final decision over Russia's eligibility for the
   Olympics until May, arguing that reforms promised from the Russian side
   still had not been implemented.

   Russia's Track and Field Association was provisionally suspended from
   international competition by the IAAF last November following a
   condemning report by the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA).

   The WADA report accused Russia of state-sponsored cheating and
   widespread deception in its anti-doping program.

   Russian sporting officials blamed the violations on a few corrupt
   individuals -- since dismissed from their posts -- and said the
   anti-doping program had been overhauled in a bid for reinstatement.

   Meldonium history

   But a series of new high-profile doping violations unveiled this week
   have renewed doubts on Russia's reform efforts.

   At issue is use of the drug meldonium -- a Soviet-era medication
   initially developed to improve Red Army soldiers' endurance in the
   field.

   The drug aids circulation in the blood and is widely used by families
   in the former Soviet Union as an affordable and non-prescription
   prophylactic.

   Grindeks, the Latvia-based manufacturer of the drug, issued a statement
   calling meldonium a "therapeutic drug ... not doping."

   Yet, after monitoring use of meldonium among athletes last year, WADA
   added the drug to the banned substances list starting Jan. 1, 2016,
   arguing it provided an advantage in competition.

   New violations

   The new meldonium ban has already snared several top Russian athletes,
   including former world number one tennis star Maria Shaparova, Olympic
   gold medalist in short-track speedskating Semion Elistratov, and world
   champion speedskater Pavel Kulizhnikov.

   WADA's announcement of the meldonium violations was met with derision
   by leading figures in the Russian sports world.

   Speaking on Russia's 24 TV network, Olympic figure-skating champion
   Yevgeny Plushenko said athletes should follow the rules, but compared
   taking meldonium to swallowing vitamin C.

   "God how ridiculous all this is," wrote Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time
   Olympic pole-vaulting champion on her Instagram account. "My
   grandmother has been taking Mildonat for the past 6-7 years," using the
   drug's commercial name.

   "Strange, but she hasn't become a super granny yet," she added.

   WADA officials say 60 athletes have tested plosive for the drug so far,
   without identifying them publicly.

   Russia's Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko cautions that more violations
   by Russian athletes are likely -- along with warnings for sports fans
   to brace for the worst.

   "Revolutionary decisions about the return of the Russian team to
   international competition are not expected," Mutko said Friday.

   Throughout its battles with WADA over the doping issue, Russia has
   swayed between displays of defiance and a willingness to seek
   compromise.

   Athlete 'witch hunt'

   Kremlin officials have called the WADA a witch hunt aimed at removing
   top Russian medal contenders.

   Those sentiments were echoed in Moscow again this week.

   In an interview with Russia's REN TV channel, Russian Foreign Minister
   Sergey Lavrov suggested that a western media campaign is aimed at
   slandering Russia's national image.

   "I wouldn't be surprised if soon they say that our air force, army and
   diplomats are also operating while doping," Lavrov said.

   Meanwhile, Sports Minister Mutko theorized the high number of Russian
   violations was merely a case of the drug lingering in the bloodstream
   longer than anticipated.

   "Our athletes aren't out to commit suicide," Mutko said. "It's possible
   traces remain in the body for a long time."

   But Mutko also called for Russia to impose stronger punishments on
   trainers and doctors who administer banned substances to athletes.

   A Duma committee Friday announced plans to introduce legislation
   immediately.

   Few doubt that Russia's exclusion from the Rio Games would be anything
   but a disappointing blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

   The Russian leader has invested heavily in returning Russian athletics
   to their former Soviet glory -- much to Russian sports fans' delight.

   Russia placed second at the Summer Games in London, and took the top
   spot in the medal count when it hosted the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/meldonium-scandal-russians-brace-olympic-ban/3232531.html