News Exercise #140

1. How does the Russian official explain the high number of cases in Russian athletes compared to other countries?
2. What had happened in the Moscow drugs testing lab, and what has happened to the lab since then?
3. What are the two opinions put forward by two athletes in the news report?

Answers:
1. How does the Russian official explain the high number of cases in Russian athletes compared to other countries?
He says that the figure of 14 positive results is not so high when you consider the size of the Russian Olympic team – it is second only to USA (but he didn’t mention that USA had a low rate of positive results).
2. What had happened in the Moscow drugs testing lab, and what has happened to the lab since then?
They destroyed 1400 samples to cover up doping. The lab’s licence has been revoked.
3. What are the two opinions put forward by two athletes in the news report?
The British athlete thinks that banning a country is the best way to stop doping, but the Russian athlete says that it is a violation of her human rights, and is unfair.