Several retired Canadian Olympians have joined a growing chorus of voices calling for Russia and Belarus to be banned from the 2024 Paris Games. This comes after recent allegations of widespread doping by athletes from these countries.

The retired Olympians, who include gold medalists and former world champions, have issued a statement calling for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, citing the need for clean and fair competition in sports.

The statement reads, in part, “We believe that clean and fair competition is essential to the integrity of the Olympic Games. Recent allegations of widespread doping by athletes from Russia and Belarus undermine this integrity, and we call on the International Olympic Committee to take action.”

The call for a ban follows a series of doping scandals involving Russian and Belarusian athletes. In 2019, Russia was banned from competing in the Olympics for four years following allegations of state-sponsored doping. The ban was later reduced to two years on appeal but still resulted in a significant number of Russian athletes being excluded from the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Belarus has also been in the spotlight recently, with several high-profile athletes speaking out against the country’s government and its treatment of athletes. In August 2021, Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was granted asylum in Poland after she accused her country’s officials of forcing her to return home from the Tokyo Games against her will.

The retired Canadian Olympians are not the only ones calling for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Several international sports organizations and athletes have also voiced their concerns, with some calling for a lifetime ban on athletes caught doping.

As the world prepares for the 2024 Paris Games, the issue of doping in sports is likely to remain a contentious and highly debated topic. It is clear that many in the sports world believe that action must be taken to ensure that the Games remain a symbol of fair play and international cooperation.