Re-examination of samples, possible change of citizenship and support of the head of the IIHF: what they say a week after the WADA verdict

“The presence of a served sentence cannot be a criterion for not admitting”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues to recheck doping samples extracted from the base of the Moscow laboratory. Currently, about 15 cases have been returned to the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). Their consideration will take place in early 2020 at meetings of the disciplinary committee. The remaining data is redirected to international federations.

“Whether these cases are included in the notorious list of 145 athletes about whom there is no data in the transferred database, I do not know, because we do not have this list. WADA does not publish it, ”RIA Novosti quoted the organization’s deputy general director Margarita Pakhnotskaya as saying.

On December 19, a meeting of the RUSADA Supervisory Board will take place, at which a decision will be made to appeal the WADA sanctions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne (CAS). According to sports lawyer Yuri Zaitsev, it will take about three weeks to review the case.

“Accordingly, if a complaint is filed in early January, a panel of arbitrators will be formed by the end of the month, and by the end of April, the final decision of the CAS should be expected,” Zaitsev explained.

It is worth noting that for the Russian side, the duration of the process will be of great importance, since if it drags on, sanctions may affect the 2024 Olympic Games. In addition, the lawyer assured that the admission to the competition will take into account whether the athlete was held accountable for the use of doping.

“The presence of an already served sentence for an anti-doping violation cannot be a criterion for not allowing an athlete to compete,” Zaitsev added.

More serious problems with getting to Tokyo may occur with athletes. The head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Sebastian Coe said that the organization must be completely confident in the cleanliness of all participants in the competition. In this regard, the Russians may not even get a neutral status at the Olympics.

“Until we are completely confident in the availability of a reliable system, I do not intend to risk the careers of pure young athletes who have devoted at least half their lives to reaching this level,” Coe quotes Inside The Games.

In 2020, eight representatives of Russia will enter the IAAF doping test pool - high jumpers Maria Lasitsken, Ilya Ivanyuk and Mikhail Akimenko, pole vaulters Angelika Sidorova and Timur Morgunov, sprinter hurdler Sergei Shubenkov, walker Vasily Mizinov and multiathlete Ilya Shkurenov.

“The situation with suspensions has become familiar to us”

A large number of questions still raises the fate of teams in team sports, as well as tournaments to be held in Russia. President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rene Fasel expressed hope for a positive outcome.

“If we can leave the tournaments in Russia, that would be good. We will communicate with lawyers. Otherwise, it will not be so easy to cancel and replay. In addition, we have already signed contracts with the country, ”the functionary said in an interview with TASS.

According to him, the decision of WADA is unfair, since whole teams that are not involved in doping scandals may suffer from sanctions. He expressed confidence that such decisions are always based on politics.

“We need to think about sports and the protection of pure athletes. Everyone is talking about this. Hey! We checked hockey players for five years - they are clean! So protect them! Do not introduce collective punishment! We are all in the same boat. And they answer us: "Well, everyone is punished." I think that behind all these decisions is political motivation, ”Fasel added.

The head coach of the Czech hockey team Milos Rziga, who previously headed Spartak, SKA and Vanguard, also spoke out against collective punishment.

“I did not go into the details of what happened, but first we need to organize a serious check. Sport must remain a sport. On the contrary, it is necessary to single out pure athletes, help them and be proud of them, ”Sport-Express quotes Rzhiga as saying.

In the event that the sanctions remain in force, athletes have to make a choice: go to the start under a neutral flag or completely refuse to participate in competitions. At the moment, opinions on this issue are divided. So, two-time national cycling champion Ilnur Zakarin admitted that he is considering changing citizenship. At the same time, he is ready to speak at the Olympics without the Russian tricolor.

“I really had such an idea. It is possible, but there is no certainty. It will be necessary to think more. Last time I missed the Olympics because of political games. You can not mix these two things. The decision on my admission to the Games in Rio de Janeiro was made two days before the start. I did not have time to prepare. So it was unrealistic to speak. It’s very disappointing, ”Cycling News quotes the cyclist.

He emphasized that he was ready to fight for the right to compete, as he was confident in his purity.

“I have been living abroad for more than six years. WADA claims that the violations were in Russia, so RUSADA is responsible. But it has nothing to do with my tests. Therefore, the problem should not concern me. Ready to provide any documents. In sports you always need to prove something, and I'm ready for it, ”added the cyclist.

In turn, the head of the Cycling Federation of Russia (FVSR) Vyacheslav Ekimov expressed regret that athletes are forced to think about changing citizenship.

“The situation with suspensions has become familiar to us, and little depends on the athlete. The sports age is short, and everyone understands this. This is a difficult situation for all of us, but as a person, as a former athlete, I understand what those who are forced to fight for their future feel now, ”RIA Novosti quotes Ekimova.

Former world boxing middleweight champion Fedor Chudinov has also criticized WADA's decision.

“We thought that after Pyeongchang they would leave us behind. And they continue to humiliate us. What it is? It’s the same as giving up the homeland. How can you not represent your country in competitions? They make us ashamed of where we are from. And this is wrong. No matter where you come from. You should be proud of your home and develop it, ”Izvestia quoted Chudinov as saying.

In his opinion, the situation with the removal of Russia is difficult to take seriously.

“For 20 years, Mildronate has been a common medicine that has been taken calmly. And again we have to talk about politics: I’m more than sure that the Americans created its analogue, and our drug was simply banned, ”Chudinov said.