Philippines, 03 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


RUSSIA BLASTS DOUBLE STANDARDS BUT WON'T BOYCOTT OLYMPICS


PhilBoxing.com



Bolt and Gatlin.

In a clear case of double standards the International Amateur Athletic Federation has allowed a trio of American sprinters tainted by previous bans due to failed drug tests to compete in Rio de Janeiro?s Olympic Games while banning all Russian athletes who had previously served doping bans. Critics in Moscow assailed the double standards adopted by the International Olympic Committee.

The Americans somehow cleared to run in Rio appear bent in scuttling Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt?s swansong with AFP claiming ?athletics stumbles through the moral maze created by the Russian doping scandal.?

The most prominent of the American sprinters is Justin Gatlin who was twice suspended for failed drug tests but will be in Rio and is considered the biggest threat to Bolt in the 100 meters gold medal chase.

The 34 year old Gatlin is regarded as the most obvious symbol of the logical confusion undermining the Rio Olympics in which some athletes convicted of doping offenses have been cleared to compete while the Russians will be banned. In the battle for the 200 meters gold medal Bolt is likely to be challenged by LaShawn Merritt who previously served a 21 month ban after he tested positive for a banned steroid in 2010.

The 30 year old Merritt is the fastest man in the world over 200 meters this year.

The third American sprinter granted a reprieve is Tyson Gay who returns to the Olympics as a member of the US 4x100 meter relay quartet after completing a one year ban for testing positive for a banned steroid. Gatlin took a swipe at media earlier this year when he accused reporters of aiming to be more creative by sensationalizing storylines. Gay, one of the few men to have beaten Bolt over 100m, tested positive in 2013 and was suspended for only one year by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after cooperating with authorities even as Bolt suggested he should have been banned for life instead claiming ?The message should be: 'If you cheat, you're going to be kicked out of the sport'."

Despite the double standards The Moscow Times reported that Russia will not boycott the upcoming Olympic Games in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

Peskov said that ?Russia has always looked down on [Olympic] boycotts.? He promised to use ?all possible mechanisms? to ensure the participation of Russian track and field athletes at the upcoming Olympics.

Peskov said there was little time left until the judicial decisions, and that Russian athletes and those who defend their interests will use all tools at their disposal to ensure their participation in Rio, Russian media reported. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has, so far, exempt two Russian athletes from its blanket ban on the Russian track and field team. There are reportedly 136 Russian track and field athletes seeking ?exceptional eligibility.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Vicelles fights in Japan on Sept. 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Yoelvis Gomez Speaks After Winning the WBA Continental Latin America Title
    , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Connor Coyle sets the record straight ‘Clean from Day One. Never cheated, never will’
    , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Requito stops Bambam in 3rd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Villarosa draws with Labajo, Enano wins
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Suarez, Magsayo Reliving High Point in PH Boxing at Super Featherweights
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Pacman back into full-time boxing
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Unbeaten Laurente Dominates Marapu to Capture IBF Pan-Pacific Lightweight Crown; Gaballo Wins in Co-Main Event
    , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Thunderdome 51 Review: Perth’s Joel Lewis claims title with stunning knockout
    , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Paulette Cuesta and Susy Kandy Sandoval Set for Highly Anticipated Rematch in Tijuana
    , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 31 August 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • Gaballo, Laurente prevail in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • Paalam leads ABAP team in Liverpool
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • OKC Thunder Favored to Repeat as NBA Champs
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • Pacman sets ‘Thrilla’ commemoration
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Historic win for Paolo Gallito who edges Lee Van Cortez in the finals of the Efren "Bata" Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • "The Return" Weights from Detroit
    , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Efren Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Tourney: Corteza Faces Villafuerte in Finals
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Martha Salazar: Stepping Out of Her Own Shadow
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Laurente and Marapu Make Weight for IBF Regional Title; Gaballo Fights Tomorrow in Sanman Boxing Show in Gensan
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • IM Christian Arca sweeps 10-game simultaneous chess in IIEE SMRC in Davao City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY PRESENTS “I’M SWEET” FEATURING GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Traya, Bactol, De Barbo, Porres in Action in Highland Show in Thailand, live on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Bisutti, Panya Make Weight for UBO World Title in Highland Show on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Turki Alalshikh the most influential boxing leader in United Kingdom
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.