Turkey confident about Istanbul 2020 Olympics bid despite doping scandal

ISTANBUL

The Turkish National Olympic Committee President Uğur Erdener is confident that a series of doping cases will not hurt Istanbul’s 2020 Games bid. AP photo

The Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) President Uğur Erdener is confident that a series of doping cases will not hurt Istanbul’s 2020 Games bid.

The head of Turkey’s Olympic committee has said the spate of doping cases in the country should help - rather than harm - Istanbul’s bid for the 2020 Games.

The Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) Uğur Erdener says the increase in positive cases “shows that Turkey is fighting doping and, in my opinion, will affect the Olympic bid positively, not negatively.”

Erdener said in a statement that “we are pressing ahead with our efforts to combat doping with tests conducted during and outside of competitions.”

Istanbul is competing with Madrid and Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics, with the IOC vote to be held on Sept. 7.

The IAAF said on July 9 it had “intensified” its testing program in Turkey amid dozens of new positive doping cases in the country.

Erdener’s statement came in the wake of a string of positive doping tests of Turkish athletes, and claims that Turkey would be excluded from the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Russia next month.

However, the daily Telegraph’s reports were later rejected.

The sport’s world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Turkish Athletics Federation denied the claims that Turkey could be excluded from the World Championships in Moscow.

No suspension

Turkish Athletics Federation head Mehmet Terzi said yesterday that he had met IAAF officials and that the country had been cleared to compete in the championships.

“Turkey’s determined fight against doping was appreciated by the IAAF,” Terzi said.

Several Turkish athletes, including two-time defending European Champion hurdler Nevin Yanıt, are facing doping charges.

The 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics will be held in Moscow between Aug. 10 and 18.