We can see the glass half empty or half full. The Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee chose the second option. The numerous positive tests of Turkish athletes reflect the rise of the country's anti-doping policy, Professor Ügur Erdener, IOC member and President of the Turkish NOC, tried to explain today to the international media present in Buenos Aires. Areas to follow, among other things, the election of the candidate city for the 2020 Games.

With 31 athletes testing positive for the athletics federation alone, the doping problem in Turkey is indeed one of the dark spots in the country's reputation on the sporting scene. To the point of pushing some observers to question the question of the existence of a doping “system” in Turkey. “Our national sports federations report to the Ministry of Sports. In fact, government choices on the issue of doping are very important. Currently, all Federations support our zero tolerance strategy and I have confidence in the ability of this new approach to eradicate doping in Turkey in the future, and starting this year,” replies Professor Erdener.

A sign of the Turks' awareness of the seriousness of the situation, the Istanbul 2020 candidacy has increased the number of announcements on the subject of doping in recent weeks: new tests, new sanctions, and the opening of an anti-doping laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in Ankara by the end of 2013.

The strategy of the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee to address the issue of doping appears clear: to promote a new, tougher and firmer anti-doping approach, without denigrating the bad habits adopted by the country in the past. “To be honest, there were not enough tests carried out in the past,” however, concedes Professor Erdener, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency.