“There will be no runaway”: Svishchev about the WADA Executive Committee, support to Lasitsken and the possible outflow of athletes abroad

- According to the results of the meeting of the WADA executive committee, Russia may be excluded from international competitions. How do you feel about this scenario?

- The Russian sport is not afraid of such strikes. We have already passed this in the Soviet and Russian times. The first wave of sports sanctions has recently ended; now the second is rolling. Of course, I really hope that this does not happen, but we are persistent people, so we will take courage to any decision. We will find opportunities, our athletes will represent the Russian team, regardless of what sanctions will be applied. We will adapt. As President Vladimir Putin said, we will defend the interests and rights of our athletes in all courts.

- Do you feel pressure ahead of this verdict?

- Of course, it is present. But this primarily applies to the leaders of international federations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), members of the executive committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Right now, the Western media are particularly active. There is psychological pressure on the people who make the decision. Notice that all global attacks on Russian sports occur before important events: the Olympic Games, world championships, fateful decisions.

- Do you think international organizations themselves are interested in the removal of Russia?

- Believe me, they do not need these scandals. They love and respect Russian sport, which is very authoritative throughout the world. It is important for them that Russia be represented in any of the forms. It is impossible without her.

- Recently it became known that the Commission of Athletes of the Anti-Doping Agency of Great Britain ( UKAD ) requires the complete removal of Russian athletes from participation in international competitions. What do you think about it?

- Who are these athletes? What are they talking about? Unfortunately, young people are drawn into this story, horror stories are told that dope is made in Russia, then it is poured, pinned, and samples are opened. Of course, they listen to this, although every day they themselves go to the start with the same guys from our country.

- How to respond to such statements?

- If an athlete, regardless of nationality, color, creed, uses doping, he must be punished. In Russia, criminal liability has been introduced. We are committed to pure sports and agree with WADA on this. But if we are blamed for something indiscriminately, we will defend the rights of our athletes.

- If the Russian athletes are again faced with the choice of refusing to speak at the Olympics or appearing under a neutral flag, how do they understand what is right?

- This is a personal matter for everyone. But there is no global catastrophe. Yes, team sports are more difficult, because each person can have his own vision of the situation. But somehow this problem was solved.

- You think that everything is not so scary?

- The athlete still remains the representative of Russia, which invested his resources in it. Here is your coach, Olympic Committee, native school, where you took your first steps. Fans love you no matter what flag you fly. We are all waiting for the Russians to once again be able to fully represent their country. We hope that the IOC will make the right decision.

- You are not outraged by the fact that Grigory Rodchenkov, previously accused of gross violation of anti-doping rules, is now the main witness to the investigation against Russia?

- It is amazing to me what is happening at WADA, in the compliance committee. Rodchenkov invented a prohibited drug, trying to convict us of these atrocities, and anti-doping laws are called by his name.

- Russia's non-recognition of charges of fraud can contribute to tougher punishment?

- Nothing terrible will happen, no chaos. Russia will be represented on the international sports podium, because our sport is a leader in many disciplines. And no sanctions will stop us.

“Don't you think that such a scandal could have been avoided?”

- Probably. But we all became hostages of what happened. Yes, then it was necessary to be more rigid and systemic. Now we are reaping the fruits of what has been sown. But there is nothing irrevocably, globally dishonest. Therefore, now our task is to train pure athletes, talk about the dangers of doping and achieve high results in the international arena.

- Due to the difficult situation in Russian sports, scandals are becoming more frequent with the participation of individual athletes and the leadership of the federations. Will this provoke a split in the sports community of the state?

- Any athlete, the more so having reached great heights, has the right to express his opinion. I agree with criticism of Maria Lasitskene against the All-Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA). She must defend the rights of her athletes. But if she does not have representation, then she is not capable of doing this. From this point of view, Maria is right. But, of course, each problem needs to be disassembled pointwise.

- Does it frighten you that a possible removal of Russia can provoke a massive outflow of athletes abroad?

- This was not, is not and never will be. Yes, it’s completely normal if an athlete changes his citizenship for the sake of more suitable conditions, for the sake of a place in the national team. There are many reasons, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But foreigners also come to Russia. We have a soccer player from Brazil, a skater from Korea, a snowboarder from the USA. Sport is multinational. But there is no general flight, no matter how much someone would like it.