Andrew Johnsen: Lifetime bans simple solution

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir recently made his comeback to international cricket after serving a five-year suspension for spot-fixing. Photo / Getty Images

Competitive sport found itself at a crossroad and instead of making a right turn to the bright lights of clean competition, turned left towards the dark shroud of controversy.

We are now in an age where cheats can justifiably feel hard done by if they aren't allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics.

If that isn't a major issue, what is?

The IOC has decided not to enforce a blanket ban in the wake of allegations of state-sponsored cheating, but instead would stop any Russian athlete who had ever been sanctioned for doping.

This has ignited furious debate about whether that was the right call, but that isn't the right discussion to have.

The likes of sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, cyclist Alejandro Valverde, swimmer Sun Yang, tennis player Marin Cilic and shot putter Natallia Mikhnevich will be competing at Rio.

They all have previously been sanctioned for doping, but they aren't bound to the IOC's decision.

The banned Russian athletes could justifiably feel hard done by because of the decision, but therein lies the problem.

Sport has become a place where cheats can feel hard done by that they are unable to compete because of decisions made by those in high places.

There is a really simple solution to the problem that sport in general continually glosses over - life bans.

Not just for doping, but for any form of cheating or match-fixing. But instead, governing bodies settle for inconsistent punishments.

And it's not just at the Olympics where this is an issue. Take Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Amir for example.

Sure, the 24-year-old Pakistani got a five-year ban for deliberately bowling no-balls in a spot-fixing effort against England at Lord's. Captain Salman Butt and senior pace bowler Mohammad Asif were also involved. They got 10 and seven years respectively.

After some Twenty20 action against New Zealand, he made what can be described as a poetic comeback to test cricket when he helped Pakistan to a historic win over England at Lord's, the scene of his crime. No questions asked.

Lou Vincent must feel incredibly hard-done by.

Vincent was found guilty on multiple counts of spot-fixing, but also helped the International Cricket Council to expose other cheaters.

His life bans are so extensive, he can't go watch his son play junior cricket.

Even Butt, the ringleader of the Pakistani operation, is allowed to play again now after five years of his ban were suspended. Former Australia test captain Ricky Ponting said at the time, that the suspension made him doubt how genuine their wins over Pakistan were.

That's where sport has gotten to; clean competitors questioning whether their wins and losses are genuine. Whether it's a two, five or 10 year ban, it isn't providing enough incentive to clean up sport and stop those who cheat.

Competitive sport's image is being denigrated; and if the powers have their way, there won't be any redemption.