Bloomberg enters presidential race, global committee recommends Russian Olympic ban
Catherine Jackson and Renee Watters
Publishing every Friday, “The Top 2” recaps the two most notable and important stories from the week (Saturday-Thursday). Assistant Editor Ryan Stanley covers topics ranging from issues in the U.S. to problems worldwide. For more information on stories, refer to the embedded links within the article.
November 25, 2019
1. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched his 2020 Democratic presidential campaign Sunday. The 77-year-old billionaire entered the race to “defeat Donald Trump and rebuild America,” but because of his late entry, Bloomberg won’t compete in the first four voting contests and will pour his efforts into Super Tuesday. Use of his estimated $58 billion personal fortune to finance his campaign will disallow Bloomberg from participating in the next debate, which requires voter fundraising.
Why this matters
Presenting himself as a centrist alternative, Bloomberg may prove a strong contender against the incumbent at a time of dwindling financial support for Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden. The Bloomberg camp recently purchased the largest television buy in political history, booking over $34 million in ads over the course of the next week. However, his personal wealth continues to ignite controversy as key players like Warren and Sanders head the debate over wealth inequality.
2. A World Anti-Doping Agency committee proposed a four year global sports ban on Russia, putting the national team in danger of not competing in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The committee charged officials with noncompliance for tampering with, and even erasing, test results from an antidoping regulatory database. A final ruling will decide the course of punishment for Russia in a discussion Dec. 9.
Why this matters
The latest chapter in a five-year doping scandal will affect a whole new generation of Olympic athletes. President Thomas Bach opposes a blanket ban, opening the possibility of Russian athletes competing under a neutral flag, similar to the 2016 Sochi Olympics. Not only will the ban affect Russian involvement in the Olympics, but other international sporting events as well, such as the World Cup. The event will test the strength of, and the ability of the agencies to enforce, the antidoping law worldwide. The scandal could lead the sports community, domestic and international, to tighten regulations and medical requirements for athletes across the board.
