The Siberian Indoor Championships were disrupted within moments when 36 Russian athletes immediately withdrew from the event — because drug testers turned up.
36 Russian athletes withdrew from track and field competition when drug testers arrived
They all claimed various illnesses, then left.
Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Citing a wide variety of illnesses, members of the Russia team dropped out of competition and ensured they would not be tested at the event. In response, the Russian track and field federation has said it’s launching an investigation into the mass exodus of athletes.
Russia’s widespread doping led to the country’s dismissal from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Athletes will be able to compete, however they must have prior approval from the International Olympic Committee and they will not be allowed to participate under the Russian flag.
The incident in Siberia isn’t the first time Russian athletes have withdrawn from an event to elude anti-doping officials. Several athletes withdrew under similar circumstances in 2017, which led to a women’s race only having three finishers.
In addition, the World Anti Doping Agency reported in 2016 that one of its testers was offered money as a bribe in exchange for not testing a Russian athlete. While one athlete, who heard she would be tested following a race, simply ran out of the stadium and never finished.
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