Kienbaum (dpa) – German Olympic discus champion Robert Harting on Tuesday harshly criticized International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach over the decision not impose a doping-related blanket ban on Russian athletes for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
«He is part of the doping system for me, not of the anti-doping system. I feel ashamed for him,» Harting said at a media event in Kienbaum.
«I have often voiced by disappointment over Thomas Bach. But this here is a new dimension of disappointment.»
The IOC on Sunday decided to allow Russian athletes to Rio if they were picked by their respective sports federations under strict criteria – despite allegations of widespread and state-sponsored doping in the country by the World Anti-Doping Agency which had recommended a full ban.
Harting also joined the large number of critics of the IOC over their decision to not allow Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to run in Rio.
«That is not right. She has prevented so much damage for the world of athletics. Her start would have been a slap in the face of Mr Putin.
That’s why it is not happening,» Harting said in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
