Australian Sports Commission Deputy Chair and Winter Olympics gold medallist Alisa Camplin-Warner said the IOC’s decision to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics was appropriate to protect the “spirit of sport”.
“At the opening ceremony of every Olympics, the host nation and an athlete representing the competitors of the world, make a pledge to engage in a clean and fair Olympics, respecting the spirit of sport,” Camplin-Warner said.
“Clearly this pledge was neither respected or upheld by the Russians in Sochi in 2014, and today’s decision by the IOC to ban Russia from competing in the 2018 Olympics as a consequence, is an appropriate response.
“Current and future athletes of the world, as well as all international spectators and lovers of sport, need to know that the purity of sport and the Olympic ideals are both sacred and important to protect.
“I have no doubts that all athletes heading to PyeongChang in February 2018 will be greatly buoyed by the actions taken by the IOC. Hopefully now all athletes can focus on their own preparations for a wonderful upcoming Games”.
AIS Director Peter Conde commended international decisions to ban Russia from both the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
“These are strong, important and necessary decisions to protect the integrity of international sport.
“The ASC and AIS are uncompromising advocates for clean sport and we believe every athlete, in Australia and globally, deserves the opportunity for fair competition.
“The IOC’s decision sends a strong global message that doping and systemic cheating cannot be tolerated.
“The ASC and AIS invest in sport for the benefit of all Australians. We are committed to playing our role in a united approach for clean sport in Australia.”