The Summer Olympics, which were supposed to open this week, have seen their share of competitive scandals—but none more bold or bizarre than Soviet pentathlete Boris Onischenko and his doctored fencing sword.
The phone call comes at the supper hour. A Ukrainian number. The voice—speaking Russian—is polite, formal, unwavering.
“Would you be ready to meet with us?”
“No.”
“So you do not want to?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why? Because it is painful to talk about?”
“It’s a painful wound for me. I don’t want to trouble myself, and you as well. I don’t want to exculpate myself.