“Political Games”: Efimova on WADA sanctions, performance under a neutral flag and selection for the Olympic Games 2020

- On December 9, the executive committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency agreed with the recommendations of the compliance committee and decided to impose sanctions on Russia. How did you react to this?

- I learned about this quite recently. She did not follow the news, until the last she hoped that this would not happen.

- Did you expect that the final decision will be just that?

- Even after the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. After her swim, she immediately said that nothing was finished, everything was just beginning. We will still have problems. We were clearly given to understand this.

- For the Russian athletes, the Games in Tokyo will be the second in a row at which they will be presented in neutral status. How has the situation changed since the competition in South Korea?

- Every year everything became worse and worse. At the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the whole country was denied the right to fly under its own flag. Almost the same thing is happening now, but still more complicated. This time, the sanctions are designed for four years and apply to all international tournaments. It is necessary to think what and how to do, how to qualify for the competition. I can’t say that it came as a surprise to me, but I didn’t expect it to be so harsh.

- The heads of federations are sure that WADA is too politicized and biased towards Russia, and some decisions are made under pressure. Do you share their position?

- I agree, this verdict seems politicized to me. How can everyone be removed? Punish those who were to blame. Those involved in this situation with RUSADA and WADA, athletes involved in anti-doping rule violation. It is necessary to disqualify in fact, and not to deprive everyone of the opportunity to defend the honor of their country. These are some kind of political games.

• Julia Efimova: “WADA Verdict seems politicized to me”

- Why do you think so?

- After all, they still allow athletes to the Olympic Games, albeit in a neutral status. But they don’t want to see the Russian flag there, they don’t want us to represent our country.

- To get to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Russian athletes will have to go through a complicated admission procedure. There is no doubt that special attention will be focused on athletes with a doping past. How are you going to act?

“Just like before.” I already have a lawyer reserved.

- At the same time, there is no direct prohibition in WADA rules to issue neutral status to athletes with similar problems. Is this encouraging?

“If you once violated a rule, you won’t be served twice for this punishment.” I hope this works, but I can’t be sure. Yes, this happened to me, as a result, I was disqualified for two years. At the same time, many athletes from the USA, Europe and other countries had problems with doping, but now they are calmly performing. If you want to establish such laws, let them be one for all. Not only for Russia, please.

• Julia Efimova: “If you want to establish such laws, let them be one for all”

- You already had to go through all these difficulties for the sake of speaking at the Olympic Games in 2016. How much concern do you have this time?

“I think I survived everything in Rio de Janeiro.” At the moment, I think that nothing worse can happen. Then I was admitted to the Games on the day of their official opening. She was sick for half a year, constantly sitting on pills. Now I have not such a reaction to what is happening. Even if I’m not allowed to speak, I’m a grandmother for sports without five minutes. (Laughs). So this is the fate of what to do.

- What would you advise other Russian athletes in this situation?

- Do not worry. You must immediately hire lawyers, not wait for help from someone, but do everything yourself. They can turn to me for advice.

- How serious is the ability to speak under your own flag for the athletes themselves?

- We athletes love our country. I can not imagine how it is possible to speak without a flag. This is a very important thing for us. We defend the honor of Russia, when we are deprived of this, we are not allowed to represent ourselves.

- In that case, is it worth the Russian athletes to refuse a trip to Tokyo if they cannot represent Russia?

“I don't think we have a choice.” It’s hard to refuse a trip to the Games, when you devote yourself all to it, spend your life on it. And this is especially important for young athletes who may not have a second chance.