October 28, 2005 – Cross-country ski hero Beckie Scott is livid at the frantic lobbying by Olympic officials to get strict anti-doping laws in Italy — which can include jail sentences — relaxed for the 2006 Turin Winter Games.

Scott, one of several Canadian athletes who want to see Italian authorities remain resolute, said she is “totally dismayed and disappointed” by the continuing efforts of the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency to get the Italian government to ease the penalties during the Feb. 10-26 event.

“What kind of message are they trying to send?” asks Scott, adding that most people in the sports community don’t feel the current two-year suspension for a doping offence is an effective deterrent.

“I think that these laws essentially give athletes a choice — come to the Olympics clean or stay home. What is so wrong with that? And why is there so much concern about the athletes who may stay home, or even run the risk of arrest and breaking Italian law by testing positive at the Games? Why such concern and care for those who dope and cheat?

“Has all perspective about the importance of fair play, respect for the rules of the Games and respect for our fellow competitors been completely abandoned in favour of ensuring that superstars remain superstars and scandal is avoided?”

Scott received her Olympic gold medal more than two years after her race at the 2002 Salt Lake Games, in which the two Russians who finished 1-2 were later caught doping. Her criticisms of the IOC and WADA carry even more weight considering she’s a member of WADA’s athletes committee.

Like Scott, reigning world freestyle skiing aerials champion Steve Omischl thinks there can only be one reason the IOC is trying so hard to get Italy to waive its harsher penalties.

“It’s probably because they know there’s a lot of drug use and just imagine if an athlete goes there and gets busted and is criminally charged, what a bad story it’s going to be,” said the North Bay native. “If I was in their shoes, I’d want them to relax it, too. ”

Clara Hughes, the only Canadian to ever win medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, called it “fantastic news” that Italian officials are refusing to budge. “I am so pleased that Italy is taking this stand and feel that the chance of a level playing field is even greater with these laws,” said Hughes.

Italian Health Minister Francesco Storace and the head of Italy’s national Olympic committee, Gianni Petrucci, both reiterated this week that the laws won’t be changed for the Olympics. “We can’t accept the principle that Italian laws are not valid because there are athletes from somewhere in the world who want to be free to take doping (substances),” Storace said.

The topic heads the agenda this week at the IOC’s executive committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The Olympic rules and the WADA code never contemplated having doped athletes locked up — just get them out of sport,” said WADA president Dick Pound.

With the NHL set to send its best to Italy, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league is not overly concerned about the issue at this point.

“Obviously, the matter will play itself out between now and February, and NHL athletes will be prepared to live by whatever rules and policies are determined applicable to their participation in the Games,” said Daly.