"I WILL NOT BE BACK"

SPORTS

Recall: after the “silver” race for Olga, the prohibited drug carphedon was found in her body. The second doping test confirmed its presence. Very serious sanctions followed. First, the IOC took away the silver medal from Olga. A...

Recall: after the “silver” race for Olga, the prohibited drug carphedon was found in her body. The second doping test confirmed its presence. Very serious sanctions followed. First, the IOC took away the silver medal from Olga. And then the executive committee of the International Biathlon Union decided on a two-year disqualification of the Olympic champion Salt Lake City.

So... There were official explanations: they say, the attending physician did not know that the phenotropil, a restorative medicine, contained the forbidden carphedon. There were the words of Nina Vinogradova, the same doctor: the manufacturer, the Shchelkovsky Vitamin Plant, is to blame for everything. And in response - the excuse of its director: everything is written on the package. There was a self-flagellation of the president of the federation - the legendary Alexander Tikhonov: "I did not keep track." There were many things. What's the point? The great athlete failed to put a triumphant end to her career. Moreover, according to Italian law, she was threatened with imprisonment of up to three years. And Olga Pyleva left Turin, and with it the big sport secretly and with quiet shame.

Vice President of the Russian Biathlon Union Dmitry ALEKSASHIN:

- Understand, not a single normal athlete in preparation for the Olympic Games will take prohibited pharmacology. Especially of such a level as Olga Pyleva, who claimed the highest places. After all, this is a real sports suicide.

- How did it happen that Olga Pyleva was trained by a visiting doctor, and not by the staff of the federation?

Olga worked with this doctor for about eight years. And there were no major incidents. Her doctor is a highly qualified specialist.

- Then what can be called what happened - traditional Russian sloppiness?

- I would characterize this as the carelessness of pharmacists.

- It turns out that one of the best biathletes in the world left big sport because of this carelessness?

- You decide. Although Olga Pyleva announced her desire to leave biathlon at the Olympics in Salt Lake City. She said she would leave the sport after the Turin Games.

— What is the atmosphere in your delegation now?

“At first it was very tense. Now it is slowly calming down.