Russian athletes face new obstacles
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On December 17, the period of ineligibility of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) expires. But, as the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Vitold Banka said, this does not mean at all that the abolition of the suspension of RUSADA, without which, no matter how strange it may sound in the current circumstances, the full return of Russian athletes to participate in international competitions will really take place. . According to the Polish functionary, WADA has reason to extend the suspension of the Russian side because of the case of figure skater Kamila Valieva. It is currently pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On December 17, the term for the suspension of RUSADA expires. Recallthat at the end of 2019, WADA recognized the Russian anti-doping structure as not complying with the anti-doping code (due to numerous violations found in the database of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory for 2012-2015) and actually disqualified RUSADA for four years. Later CAS reduced the term of punishment is up to two years and decided to count its term from December 16, 2020. Note that during the period of disqualification, Russian athletes could not compete in major competitions, such as the Olympic Games and World Championships, under their own flag (this happened at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo and the Winter Games in Beijing 2022), and Russia could not accept and qualify for hosting top tournaments.
As it turns out, the expiration of the suspension of RUSADA is not, in the opinion of WADA, sufficient grounds for lifting restrictions on the Russian side.
This was stated by WADA President Vitold Banka in an interview with the portal Insidethegames. According to him, the doping case of figure skater Kamila Valieva became a stumbling block. Mr. Banka noted that the procedure provides for an audit of the Russian anti-doping structure. Then you will need to wait for the verdict of the WADA Compliance Committee (CRC). And only after his recommendation to reinstate RUSADA in its rights, the WADA executive committee can make an appropriate decision. In a different situation, these formalities could be settled within a reasonable time. But the story of Valieva’s doping case, Mr. Banka believes, changes everything.
About the fact that the banned drug trimetazidine was found in the sample of the undisputed leader in the world women’s single skating Kamila Valieva on December 25, 2021, became known during the February Olympics in Beijing, shortly after the end of the team tournament. The Russian team won it largely thanks to Valieva. She brought her 20 out of 74 points, taking the lead in both the short and free programs. The case was eventually referred to RUSADA, which did not make any decision until November. As a result, WADA has already applied to CAS. Agency requires disqualification Valiev for four years. “WADA’s position on this case has always been extremely transparent,” Vitold Banka said. “Despite the fact that WADA called on RUSADA to make a decision within a reasonable time, no progress has been made. So on November 8, WADA approached CAS.”
Mr. Banka explained that he could not comment on the course of the Valieva case, and also noted that the CAS decision did not say anything and could not say anything about the case with Valieva. But the WADA president said that the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code state that if, during the period of suspension, new facts of non-compliance with the rules are revealed and a decision on the latter has not been made, termination of the punishment is impossible. He also noted that a virtual audit of RUSADA took place in September, which revealed some new inconsistencies with the code.
The statement of the President of WADA may significantly complicate the search for a compromise aimed at returning Russian athletes to the international arena. They are mostly excluded from international competitive activity after the start of events in Ukraine.
In February, the IOC recommended international sports federations to avoid Russian participation (most structures followed the recommendation) and called the sanctions a kind of protective measure. In this concept, the IOC puts concern for the security of Russians in Europe and North America. But late last week at the Olympic summit in Lausanne, was approved a scheme that potentially ensures the return of a significant part of Russians to competitive activity. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) put forward a proposal according to which Russian athletes could compete not in European, as always, but in Asian competitions and through them qualify for participation in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Acting President of the OCA Randhir Singh said that the road to Asia is open to Russian and Belarusian athletes. In light of recent statements by the President of WADA, the implementation of the OCA project may slow down.
“The return of the Russians is important for the Olympic movement”
The United States Olympic Committee (USOPC) supports the participation of Russians in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, said USOPC head Suzanne Lyons. On Friday, the Olympic summit took place in Lausanne, Switzerland. His final declaration spoke of universal support for the initiative to review protective measures, which consists in not allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete. At the same time, it was stated that sanctions against Russia and Belarus should remain in force, which include, in particular, the performance of athletes without a national flag and anthem and a ban on holding competitions.
“It may be unpleasant to realize, but the exclusion of the Russians throws us back, their return is really important for the Olympic movement. At the same time, we continue to support the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian athletes. The United States supports the search for opportunities to return to competition for athletes who have trained for this all their lives, but we are strongly opposed to them returning under the national flag, while their countries are under sanctions, ”The Wall Street Journal quotes Suzanne Lyons .
Since the end of February, the United States has actively advocated for the removal of Russians from the competition. “Then, as operational measures, everyone had to be divided. Yes, we fully supported the suspension then. But at the Olympic summit, the question was raised – has the need for protective measures remained the same? Although the catalyst for the situation is still present, it is obviously the conflict in Ukraine, the issue of the safety of athletes is no longer so acute, ”said Ms. Lyons.
At the same time, even if the Russians are admitted, there remains a threat that some countries, on their own initiative, will prohibit them from participating in competitions on their territory. “This is a serious violation of the Olympic Charter. We do not want individual countries to decide for political reasons with whom they or their athletes should or should not interact, ”she emphasized.
At the end of February, the IOC, as a protective measure, recommended that international sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions due to the situation in Ukraine. “RIA News”
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