Another day, another doping scandal.
Another day, another example of the Kremlin's utter contempt for rules and standards.
Another day, another case of Vladimir Putin's regime resorting to bullying and intimidation to achieve its goals.
In a report released yesterday, the World Anti-Doping Agency said its officials have been physically prevented from testing Russian athletes and even threatened by armed agents of the Russian security services.
So not only has Russia been running a systematic, state-sponsored doping program to cheat in international athletic competitions.
Not only has it been going to extraordinary lengths to conceal this effort -- going as far as to hold Olympic qualifiers in cities with restricted access due to civil conflicts.
But now we are learning that the Kremlin used armed security agents to prevent legitimate international doping officials from carrying out their legitimate duties.
They have even threatened those who insisted on doing their jobs with deportation.
As I've noted before, the way the Kremlin approaches sports is something of a metaphor for the way it approaches politics and foreign affairs.
Whenever possible, use deceit, diversion, and distraction -- all the while maintaining a facade of respectability.
And when that fails, take off the mask and resort to force.
Because for this regime, the rule of law is always trumped by the law of the gun.
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