Bobsleigh Bows to Pressure from Athletes

(ATR) The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) is moving its world championships out of Sochi, Russia.

The IBSF says another location will be determined in the coming days.

The decision, announced Tuesday, followed increasing calls from bobsleigh and skeleton athletes to hold the event,scheduled for Feb. 17-26, outside of Russia. The release of the second McLaren report last week helped in building momentum for the cause.

Teams from the United States, Latvia and South Korea have threatened to boycott the world championships if they were held in Sochi.

Canadian double Olympic gold medalist driver Kallie Humphries summed up the sentiment on her Twitter account: "I want to compete in a World Championships that's drug free and safe for all. Sochi is not an option."

The outcry by the athletes was not mentioned directly by the IBSF in its statement, which said "The IBSF Executive Committee felt that during this difficult time it is prudent not to organize such an event in Russia."

Travis Tygart, the chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, tells Around the Rings "We heard from a lot of athletes around the world – German athletes, English athletes as well as U.S. athletes – who were very concerned about going over to participate in Sochi under the circumstances."

Tygart says USADA is pleased with the IBSF decision because it falls in line with the International Olympic Committee’s request, following the release of the first McLaren report in July, for winter federations to avoid holding world championships in Russia.

But the IBSF did not mention the IOC in either of its two reasons for pulling out of Russia. The first was "to allow athletes and coaches from all Nations to participate in a competition that focuses on sport rather than accusations and discussions – whether justified or not."

The second was "The Russian Bobsleigh Federation has put a great effort in the preparation of the World Championships, but the current climate would make it nearly impossible to appreciate the efforts of the Organizing Committee to host a great event or the quality of the Sanki Sliding Center as one of the best tracks in the World."

The IBSF statement ended with a request asking "all Members and athletes for Fair Play and Respect, which also includes the assumption of innocence for any athlete, regardless of national affiliation, until proven guilty. "

Written by Gerard Farek

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