The Russian track and field team has been banned from the 2016 Olympics. The reason was surrounding allegations of use of performance enhancing drugs. This punishment is severe, considering there is no evidence that every Russian athlete on the team used drugs to give them an advantage in competition. There is no evidence that the Russian Sports Ministry had a doping program in operation for its athletes. There are many factors working in this situation. First, this is clearly a political motivation. Western Europe and the US are in conflict with Russia over Syria and Ukraine policy. Sanctions, presenting Russia as a threat, and now banning its sports teams from the Olympics is a way to harm the country in the international stage. This also highlights the fact that the War on Drugs has come to sports. It is not so much a question of fairness in competition, but the fact millions are spent in drug testing and laboratory facilities. The fact is drugs have been a part of sports since its inception. There are so many available now, it is not possible to detect everything. The idea that use is some how "cheating" seems ludicrous, because use does not guarantee victory. A pill does not create a champion. The IAAF has a right to ban athletes who violate their rules in regards to drugs, but it should not model itself on concepts such as pharmaceutical puritanism. The Olympics should be about bringing nations together in the spirit of a friendly game, not international disputes. Sadly, these are more than just games with athletes around the world, it another arena of international struggle.
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