Russia facing cold, hard reality of anti-doping era
Russia’s paltry medal count in Vancouver sparked political outrage back home and it is clear the nation has not figured out how to adapt its outdated Soviet system to 21st century anti-doping realities. With the next Winter Olympics headed to Sochi, the Russians will go all-out to win in 2014, and with the U.S. as its main target, the next Games could have a Cold War feel.
By Alan Abrahamson, Universal Sports | Posted: Mar 9, 5:18a ET | Updated: Mar 9, 7:18a ET
So the Russian team finishes sixth in the overall medals count at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, with 15. By Russian — and Soviet-era — standards, that’s dismal.
It’s so poor that heads roll back home and the prime minister, Vladimir Putin, chairing a meeting last Friday, says the government had spent about $117 million over the past three years preparing for Vancouver and declares, ominously, “Maybe the money was spent not on what was needed but instead on what someone wanted to spend it on.”
Read more of Alan’s column here: http://www.universalsports.com/blogs/blog=alanabrahamsonsblog/postid=456724.html#russia+facing+cold+hard+reality+anti+doping
