Table of Contents
- 1 With the Russian, 5 athletes were disqualified for doping in the London 1500m. And now the medal can be reassigned
- 2 from fourth to second, then…
- 3 the palmares
- 4 Should athletes who have been previously banned for doping be allowed to compete again at the Olympic level? What should be the criteria for reinstatement?
With the Russian, 5 athletes were disqualified for doping in the London 1500m. And now the medal can be reassigned
Giuseppe Di Giovanni
November 22 – 09:59 – MILAN
It went down in history as the dirtiest Olympic final ever. With all due respect to those who believe it was Ben Johnson’s 100 in Seoul 1988. The numbers say it. The women’s 1500 in London 2012 saw 5 athletes disqualified for sports fraud linked to doping, while in South Korea “only” the Canadian sprinter was removed. But let’s proceed in order, because, now it’s official, the silver medal won by the Russian athlete Tatyana Tomashova has been officially taken away.
from fourth to second, then…
—
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) communicated the decision. In September, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) disqualified Tomashova for 10 years with the cancellation of all results obtained between 21 June 2012 and 3 January 2015. The two-time world champion Tomashova had finished fourth in London, only to be promoted to second place following the disqualifications of the Turkish athletes Asli Cakir Alptekin and Gamze Bulut. Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain crossed the finish line third, only to be awarded gold.
The AIU said it had notified the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Tomashova’s updated result “has been officially disqualified” after the Russian athlete failed to appeal the CAS disqualification. Subsequently, the World Athletics Competitions Department was expected to disqualify Tomashova’s results “thereby notifying the IOC that World Athletics has changed the relevant results and rankings on its website. The IOC can now proceed with the re-awarding of medals and the database update,” the AIU said.
the palmares
—
In short, for Tomashova this is yet another stain on her career. The Russian 1500 meter athlete had won two world titles, a European title and Olympic silver in Athens in four years (from 2002 to 2006). She missed the consecration at the Games: she also lost that along with the medal and the honor that she will never be able to redeem again considering another precedent: in 2008 she was banned for two years after being accused of manipulating samples and tampering with the procedure anti-doping control.
Should athletes who have been previously banned for doping be allowed to compete again at the Olympic level? What should be the criteria for reinstatement?
Here’s a breakdown of the article, followed by interview questions broken down by theme:
**Summary**:
The article discusses the disqualification of Russian athlete Tatyana Tomashova from the 2012 London Olympics Women’s 1500m final due to doping violations. This disqualification follows a previous ban Tomashova received in 2008 for manipulating doping control samples.
The event is considered one of the dirtiest Olympic finals due to the high number of athlete disqualifications for doping. The article details the ramifications of Tomashova’s disqualification, including the re-awarding of medals and the impact on Tomashova’s already tarnished career.
**Interview Questions:**
**I. The Ethics of Doping**
* Knowing the potential consequences, why do you think athletes still resort to doping? What underlying pressures might push individuals towards this decision?
* What are the ethical implications of doping not just for the athlete but for the sport as a whole? Does it undermine the very essence of fair play and competition?
* This case is being called one of the ‘dirtiest’ Olympic finals ever. Do you think the severity of penalties for doping offenses should be increased further? Why or why not?
**II. The Legacy of Tomashova’s Career**
* Tomashova was a successful athlete before her doping violations. How should we reconcile her athletic achievements with the taint of doping? Can we separate them?
* Do you believe the legacy of athletes who dope can ever be fully redeemed? What steps could Tomashova take at this point to potentially repair her image?
**III. Anti-Doping Efforts and the Future of Sport**
* What advances in technology and monitoring are needed to more effectively combat doping in sports? Are there any strategies beyond stricter penalties that could be employed?
* Do you think there will always be a place for doping in competitive sports, or do you believe it can be eradicated? What would have to change to make this happen
* What role should athletes’ associations and governing bodies play in fostering a culture of clean sport and discouraging doping?
**IV. The Broader Social Implications**
* This story highlights the pressure athletes face to succeed. Do you think society places unrealistic expectations on athletes, potentially contributing to decisions like doping?
* Can this situation be seen as a reflection of broader issues in society concerning performance enhancement and ethical boundaries?
