Statement by Ian Chesterman regarding Russia

Wednesday 6 December 2017

STATEMENT BY IAN CHESTERMAN, CHEF DE MISSION 2018 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM

"This is an appropriate and considered response by the IOC, punishing those involved in the blatant

cheating, the systematic manipulation that took place during the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games while

allowing clean athletes to compete in PyeongChang.

"The culprits, the corrupt, have been dealt with. The offending athletes from Sochi have been

banned for life from the Olympic Games, and Russia, the host nation and custodian of the Games for

that period, has been directly punished.

"Russia, and all involved with Sochi 2014, had a responsibility to nurture the Olympic Games and

respect the athletes competing by providing a fair competition. Clearly, across so many levels that

trust was abused, so it is right that the individuals, organisations and country who failed to meet

their obligations be held to account.

"It is fair that clean athletes can compete in the 2018 Games, but the IOC has made it very clear that

the scrutiny of the athletes from Russia will be high. This is exactly as it should be. This will provide

our athletes with confidence that they have an even playing field in PyeongChang, and that is

fundamentally important."

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