IOC’s hallmark, bans six-athletes for life

In a groundbreaking debut decision, the International Olympic Committee banned six Austrian athletes on account of doping violation. The judgment came in a year post the incident, a doping indignity – that marred the Turin Winter Olympics. The verdict is a landmark: It is for the first time in the history that the IOC has banned athletes for life and has disqualified them for doping violations without any positive tests. The decision was based on the evidences seized in Italian police raids of the Austrian’s living quarters – the athletes were found accountable of possessing forbidden substances and charged of involvement in a blood-doping controversy. Penalties were unprecedented: some outcome was expected but would be so harsh wasn’t predicted – the penalty for doping costed the six Austrian cross-country skiers and biathletes a life long ban from the sport. Those banned were cross-country skiers Martin Tauber, Juergen Pinter, Johannes Eder and Roland Diethart, and biathletes Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottmann. They are barred for any authorization in any capacity at the Olympics – as athletes, coaches or officials henceforth. This is the harshest sanction imposed on the athletes by the IOC – though, a step in the right direction, illegal means have perhaps become a necessity in the sporting arena. Strict dealing is required to rid sports off the peril, for which such steps are mandatory or else soon legalizing blood-boosters will be the only alternative if the contagion is dealt liberally. Via: THESTAR