© Grigory Dukor / ReutersMikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet leader
"I support the fight against banned substances in sports. It is an evil that needs to be eradicated. Athletes found guilty of using it should be barred from competing," Gorbachev wrote in a letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) chair Thomas Bach.
The former president says he is "deeply distressed" that Russians were among those "willing to achieve victory at all costs." Gorbachev called for serious conclusions to be drawn and an independent investigation leading to appropriate measures to prevent such a situation from occurring in future.
However, Gorbachev also expressed a similar feeling of distress at the prospect of the entire Russian team being disqualified, instead of just the guilty parties.
"To me the principle of collective punishment is unacceptable. It is my belief that it contradicts the very culture of the Olympic movement, founded on the shared principles of rights and humanism.
"I hope you will give serious thought to these arguments and emerge at a just decision," the ex-president concluded.
Gorbachev's plea for leniency came amid similar appeals by the sports community and Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for an impartial investigation.
Chemical reactions occur in the body naturally, including every time we eat or drink, even if our diet remains relatively consistent.
Combinations of foods also create chemical reactions. For example, when you eat Mentos sweets and drink Coca Cola at the same time a mini explosion occurs in your body. When you go abroad the change in diet and water quality creates a change in the chemical reactions in the body which often results in constipation or diarrhoea.
Emotional states also create chemical reactions in our body. For example, adrenaline is created by the body in spite of food or drink. DMT is created by the body. Hormones are created by the body.
Therefore, my question is: how can anyone be sure of the accuracy of any of these 'doping' tests, especially in the midst of one of the biggest and most emotionally challenging competitions in the world?