“Did not receive notifications”: FIFA, RFU and RUSADA denied reports of the inadmissibility of the Russian team at the World Cup-2022

Russia has denied rumors about Russia's possible non-participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Earlier, the relevant information was distributed by beIN Sports. According to the source, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) notified Russia that the national team will not be able to perform in Qatar. However, later it turned out that this information is not true, as stated by both the Russian sports departments and the International Football Federation (FIFA).

The possible removal of the Russian team from the mundial of 2022 is connected with the situation around the Russian anti-doping agency. In December, the organization was deprived of compliance status, which led to the suspension of domestic athletes from performing at major international competitions for a period of four years. At the same time, RUSADA considered the decision unfair and appealed to the Sports Arbitration Court, as a result of which the imposition of sanctions on domestic sports was postponed until the CAS verdict was issued.

As emphasized in RUSADA, that the information on the suspension is not true.

“We have not received any official documents from WADA on this subject. I believe that for such statements, while the trial is ongoing, it is still too early, "RIA Novosti quoted Yuri Ganus, Director General of RUSADA.

The Russian Football Union (RFU) also confirmed that WADA did not contact them regarding a possible performance at the Qatar World Cup.

“We did not receive any notifications from WADA about the status of our team at the World Cup in 2022,” the RFU said.

It is worth noting that the statement of Arab journalists seemed strange also for the reason that it was not WADA who was obliged to inform about the removal of Russian athletes, but the international federation responsible for a particular sport. In this case, FIFA was supposed to contact the RFU and report a ban on speaking, but this did not happen.

“There is no difference from our December statement, in which we said that FIFA is in contact with WADA and the Association of International Olympic Summer Sports Federations (ASOIF) to clarify the issue by decision of the WADA executive committee regarding football,” RT said in a press statement FIFA Service.

In addition, the decision to prevent Russia from being allowed before the 2022 FIFA World Cup seems premature for another reason. At the moment, the qualification of the tournament has not been carried out, moreover, the composition of the qualifying groups is not even known. To begin with, the wards of Stanislav Cherchesov need to win a ticket to the mundial, and only after that decide the question of a possible performance. It should not be ruled out that FIFA provides an option with the admission of the country under a neutral flag.

On the whole, Russia was more than skeptical of the information on the Arab television channel. So, the honorary president of the RFU, Vyacheslav Koloskov, called them provocative and urged them not to react.

“Another turbidity that starts to wander from time to time. WADA cannot prevent anyone, such decisions are the responsibility of the International Football Federation. When FIFA makes a statement, it makes sense to comment on this information. The more we talk about all sorts of nonsense, the more problems we will have. Another banal provocation ”, - quotes the words of Koloskov“ Championship ”.

Agreed with the former head of the RFU and the vice speaker of the State Duma Igor Lebedev. According to him, in order to discuss such things the Russian team needs to start qualifying for the tournament.

“If we (selection. - RT ) successfully pass under the national flag and the name“ Russian national team ”, then FIFA will decide whether to let us go to the championship or not - under the flag or under neutral ... Therefore, I think it’s premature to talk about it and you shouldn’t raise this wave, ”RIA Novosti quoted Lebedev as saying.

Dmitry Svishchev, a member of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs, expressed the view that FIFA should not allow anyone to spread such rumors. In addition, the head of the Curling Federation of Russia (PRK) expressed the opinion that the publication of this information could be timed to coincide with a hearing at CAS.

“WADA sanctions regarding Russian sports did not enter into force. And no one has the right to demand the removal of the Russian team from participating in the World Cup in Qatar. I completely agree with the RFU, we must wait for official statements. Attacks on the participation of our players in the World Cup and athletes in other forms have long been. We are used to it, it lasts for many years. But pay attention when these attacks occur. Cyclically before important events, in this case, before the WADA and RUSADA proceedings in the CAS, ”Svishchev said.