"We athletes of the French Athletics team want to make our voices heard today". It is with these words that Renaud Lavillenie published a statement on his official account instagram. In an open letter and facing a hostile context, French athletes call for calm and unity, now nine months of the Tokyo Olympics. In the face of accusations of doping suffered by French athletics, Renaud Lavillenie recalls this Thursday in the morning, the importance for "the Federation to realize that everything that is happening at this time affects the athletes."
The 2012 Olympic champion also believes that "the public must understand that there are not only things to blame the athletes and the federation, it is a message to be passed on to everyone". In this letter, Renaud Lavillenie also highlights "the work of anti-doping agencies" before recalling that athletics is a sport "affected by the phenomenon of doping"
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Do not be afraid to take out the cheaters, punish them
If he is very tough on doping cases, Renaud Lavillenie believes that in athletics, "Do not be afraid to punish cheaters, the more there will be, and the better." Renaud Lavillenie does not miss the opportunity to warn the next cheaters, "those who want to come in our sport to cheat, will have more chance of getting caught than to stay 'icognito' and I think it's something Very important."
If he will be 34 years old next year, Renaud Lavillenie declares the sacred union, "A few months from the games, we need to regain a little stability.It is important to think of the athletes first. it is we who will be on the track to try to defend the colors of France at the highest level. "