In Russian sport, a conflict continues to erupt between the head of the Russian Biathlon Union Vladimir Drachev and the board of the organization. As it became known, during the week the functionary criticized his colleagues for their reluctance to report on their actions, and sent out a letter not only to all members of the SBR board, but also to the leaders of regional federations.

“The Council is another organ of the RRF, the second most important after the conference. It includes 48 people, three more federations are additionally presented, ”explained Drachev TASS.

The reason for the conflict between Drachev and the board was the formation of the new coaching staff of the Russian biathlon team. Following the meeting, Valery Polkhovsky, current vice president of the SBR, was recommended for the position of senior mentor. At the same time, the male team was to be headed by Robert Kabukov, and the female team - Vladimir Korolkevich. However, the candidacy did not suit the leader of the Union, who suggested that serious problems would arise if approved.

According to Drachev, they can be caused by the presence of a doping past among coaches. Given that since December 2017, the RBU has been sanctioned by the International Biathlon Union and cannot accept competitions under the auspices of the IBU, such steps are likely to have a negative impact on the recovery process.

“I highly appreciate the professional skills of the trainers offered by the majority of the RRF board votes, however, given the difficult situation in which the RRF is in the eyes of the international community, the constant provocations against our team, I do not consider it possible to attract any of them to the post of chief specialist. Their work can only strengthen provocations against athletes, complicate the process of restoring RRF in rights, ”TASS quotes Dracheva.

At the same time, Drachev assured that he was ready to consider the appointment of Polkhovsky to the position of coach of one of the groups of athletes. However, only if this idea is supported by members of the board and council of the RRF.

“While the country is in a regime of self-isolation, it is impractical and unprofessional to draw hasty conclusions about a change in the composition of the headquarters. At the same time, I am absolutely convinced that the changes are permissible, detailed work on errors with the help of a scalpel is necessary, without the use of rough jackhammer methods, which, unfortunately, is not becoming the best tradition in the RRF, ”added Drachev.

Polkhovsky himself reacted to criticism from the head of the SBR. The vice president did not comment on the statements addressed to him, but said that Korolkevich was very indignant.

“Vladimir Borisovich is very unpleasant to hear accusations from Vladimir Petrovich. Korolkevich has a European coach license, he worked in the national team of Belarus, is it possible there, but then questions arise? Of course, he is very upset by this information, since there is no reason for it, ”RIA Novosti quoted Polkhovsky as saying.

It is worth noting that over the past 15 years, many representatives of the Russian biathlon have alluded to Polkhovsky’s involvement in doping scandals involving domestic athletes. So, in 2009, a two-time Olympic champion Svetlana Ishmuratova spoke unflattering about a specialist.

“Polkhovsky is a person with problems. Remember: the first doping scandals in the team appeared during his reign. At one of the meetings, he openly declared: “Stop running on vitamins, you have to do like foreigners.” See where it all came from? Prior to this, we were afraid, shaking - God forbid we get caught. And here everything is in clear text, ”Ishmuratova said in an interview with Vremya Novostei.

Four-time Olympic champion Alexander Tikhonov has a similar opinion about the former coach of the Russian women's team. In 2018, he said that Ishmuratova almost left the national team because she did not want to work with Polkhovsky, accused him of involvement in doping scandals, and did not change her mind two years later.

“In the past ten years, Polkhovsky was driven out by Prokhorov, Belarusians and Kazakhs, because there were scandals, intrigues and no results everywhere. If he is appointed head coach of the Russian national team, then police raids will become the norm, ”Tikhonov wrote on his official website, hinting at an incident with Alexander Loginov at the World Championships in Anterselva.

There are also serious complaints against Korolkevich. Earlier, the mentor had already worked with the national team of Russia, and his athletes were in the center of doping scandals. So, in 2014, Ekaterina Yuryeva received a second suspension for the use of prohibited drugs, and Irina Starykh was also disqualified.

In this regard, it is not surprising that the approval of the composition of the coaching staff of the Russian team dragged on. After the vote of the board, the list of mentors must be signed by the head of the RRF and sent to the Ministry of Sports. However, this has not yet been done. In addition, rumors appeared that certain errors were made in the process of compiling it.

“Lists have not yet been submitted to the Ministry of Sports. As for the errors that were on these lists, they were identified at the preparatory stage and turned out to be purely technical: the dates of birth and place of residence were mixed up, ”Drachev explained.

Nevertheless, many hastened to blame the president of the RRF personally, who openly expressed his disagreement with the formation of the headquarters. A similar opinion was voiced by Viktor Nikitin, working personally with Anton Babikov.

“All the trainers are at a loss. Now preparations are beginning, but the lists of athletes and mentors have not been approved, although the board has agreed on everything. And now what i can do? The president does not agree, now to collect the board back? Does it turn out that the president is a god and a king? ” - Nikitin was indignant.

Dissatisfaction with the current situation was expressed by Alexander Kasperovich. Personal trainer Alexander Loginov admitted that the lack of an approved coaching staff does not allow athletes to prepare.

“There is no panic about the inconsistency of the headquarters, but I’ll say that no one talks to personal trainers. At least we train, preparation goes. Of course, I am very interested in who will work. At least in the training program to find out what we should do and where we are going. For a long time it was necessary to discuss such moments, ”Kasperovich expressed his opinion.

The incident was surprising in the member of the Board of the SBR Ivan Cherezov. Three-time world champion confirmed that the decision to appoint Polkhovsky, Kabukov and Korolkevich was made before the May holidays.

“The president was supposed to sign ... Honestly, I thought that everything was sent, but then I saw that there were some technical errors. I had a surprise. I don’t know, we no longer had board meetings. There is a general chat in one of the messengers. The plans include holding a board in the near future, ”said Cherezov.

It is worth suggesting that in the near future the situation around the Russian Biathlon Union will only increase. As you know, at the next board meeting, the issue of choosing a new president of the organization may be considered, although Drachev has no plans to leave his post. In this regard, he has already criticized the idea of ​​organizing a meeting during the coronavirus pandemic.

“If necessary, I do not mind holding an extraordinary conference, but I do not consider it appropriate to oblige regional federations to seek additional funds to pay for travel and accommodation during this difficult economic period for everyone. I regard this idea as a feast during the plague, ”said Drachev.