Passing the Baton: The Effect of the International Olympic Committee\u27s Weak Anti-Doping Laws in Dealing with the 2016 Russian Olympic Team

Following the investigation of a Russian state-sponsored doping ploy prior to the Olympic Games in Rio 2016; the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided against a blanket ban of the Russian Olympic team. Instead; it allowed athletes’ individual international federations to decide whether Russian athletes could compete. In following the various anti-doping laws in place; the IOC sought to protect and give justice to clean athletes around the world. This Note argues that they did not achieve this result; due to the anti-doping laws in place and the actors applying these laws. It suggests that there should be a universal anti-doping law to give credibility to the laws; as well as to protect athletes. In doing so; the IOC will be better equipped to deal with a doping ploy of this magnitude in the future