On the CBC this AM, I heard that the IOC wants Italy to "suspend" their tough anti-doping laws during the Winter Olympics in Turin next year. Quote from Mario Pescante, IOC member and the government supervisor for the Olympics:

""They expect Italy will respect the duties it took on when it was assigned the Games," he said.

What the hell?!?

I've been stewing on this since I heard it, trying to find *one* remotely-logical reason for why the IOC would want this, other than wrecking the show with cops raiding the Olympic village during the Games.

How is it possibly Italy's "duty" to rescind criminal laws during the Olympics? It's not like they have a law making it illegal to participate in an Olympic sport – however appropriate it might be in some circumstances. Once again, we have the IOC sending a clear message on doping – Just don't let us, or anyone else, catch you.

At least the Foreign Minister Gianfranco has the sfere to stand up to them:

"I believe that one of the principles of sports is fairness. An athlete who uses banned substances comes under this principle, and therefore I would not support measures to render our legislation - which is one of the most just and severe in the world - weaker for people who use (banned) substances."

I sincerely hope that Italy doesn't cave – and that, come February, Olympic "athletes" from all over the world find their asses warming a jail cell floor.