Protecting or undermining the integrity of sport? The science and politics of the McLaren report

ABSTRACT

This study interrogates the ramifications for the integrity of sport of the McLaren Report (2016a) into doping allegations concerning the Sochi Olympics. Using an evidence-based approach to policymaking, the main claims of the report are subjected to scrutiny. The analysis suggests that McLaren’s report seriously undermines the integrity of Olympic sport for four main reasons:

(i) Contrary to the historic neutrality of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), it took a political stance by implicating a nation state in wrong-doing without presenting sufficient evidence;

(ii) WADA undermined trust in the decision-making process concerning the enforcement of compliance with its Code by using a highly questionable methodology for gathering information;

(iii) WADA exposed its own inadequacies by allowing top athletes to use banned substances, and

(iv) WADA undermined its main mandate as an enforcer of compliance by turning this global organisation into an ‘on-demand police service’.

We conclude thus: even if you think you are doing the right thing, you must not do the right thing with the wrong process because right is also enshrined in the process. The ends cannot justify the means.

KEYWORDS:

• Russian doping
• evidence
• integrity of sport
• Olympic Games
• politics
• science

Acknowledgements

This article was supported by the GACR project ‘Models of bodily experience in the theoretical foundations of experiential education and its kinanthropological context’ (GAČR 16-19311S).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This article was supported by the GACR project ‘Models of bodily experience in the theoretical foundations of experiential education and its kinanthropological context’ (GAČR 16-19311S)

Notes on contributors

Vassil Girginov

Vassil Girginov is Reader in Sport Management/Development. His research and professional activities have been focused on the modern Olympic Movement and its various relations within, and effects upon, modern society.