If it wasn’t enough having the world worrying over delayed construction, protests and financial shortfalls the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 have been dealt another severe body blow in the past week.
A drugs scandal has erupted involving a 13 year old swimmer who tested positive following a Brazilian Children’s Championships in November last year.
The swimmer is the youngest Brazilian athlete to ever fail a drugs test. He was suspend for four months a fortnight ago.
This has however turned the spotlight full onto the Brazilian Swimming Federation as every year since 2003 they have suffered one positive test to one of their athletes. An appalling record and one that many are saying cannot be down to chance.
To add to Rio’s woes the annual Laureus Awards the top sporting prize for athletes was due to be held in there but are now in doubt because of a dispute due to missing payments related to the event this year and last years.
Rio had a two year contract to host the glamourous event but Laureus are still waiting for more than USD15million from the state government according to a leaked email from Laureus to the City’s governor.
It is believed that London and Monaco are on standby to step in and host the awards if the money owed is not forthcoming.
It is worth mentioning that global football conference Soccerex was cancelled last year as well due to what organisers claimed was “a breakdown in communication.”
There was a film in the 1980’s starring Sir Michael Caine called “blame it on Rio,” It may well prove to be an excellent title for a documentary on the Olympic Games.
