Bokel criticizes Bach: “Discussion not permitted”

Berlin (SID) Former athlete spokeswoman Claudia Bokel has denounced a lack of culture of discussion in the executive branch of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) under the leadership of President Thomas Bach. Bokel, who was in charge of the final examination of Russian athletes regarding permission to compete in the run-up to the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, particularly criticized the behavior of the IOC leadership on the Russia issue. Referring to the events in the summer of 2016, Bokel said in the latest edition of the ARD documentary series "Secret Matter Doping": "We wanted harsh consequences for Russia and that Russia be excluded from the games in Rio and Pyeongchang." However, a debate about a ban on the Olympics was apparently undesirable. "This was not allowed to be discussed in the executive branch. There was no discussion about possible consequences. Then the topic is off the table again." With regard to dealing with Bach, the current President of the German Fencing Federation (DFeB) said: "I don't stand for or against someone, but for or against a thing. If I am convinced of the opposite, that's fine with me . If the discussion is not allowed, I find it difficult." The former world-class fencer was chairwoman of the Athletes Commission between 2012 and 2016 and was also a member of the IOC executive. She was a member of the three-person IOC commission that made the final decision on whether the Russian athletes would start in Rio. According to Bokel, the work in the commission was extremely difficult. A careful review was “not possible in many cases”. “It was impossible to go through the documents in such detail in such a short time,” said the 44-year-old. The IOC responded to the statements. "Claudia Bokel had the opportunity to express herself several times. She took part in the crucial meeting of the IOC executive, expressed her opinion there and then abstained from voting," said an IOC spokesman. As an athlete spokesperson, she was also a participant in the Olympic Summit, where the issue of Russian athletes' participation in the Games in Rio de Janeiro "was also discussed comprehensively and in all directions," it said.

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Bokel criticizes Bach: “Discussion not permitted”

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