Branch of Hell

The leadership of Rusad resigned in connection with the investigation of WADA. The New Times talked with specialists and athletes about the causes of the anti-doped scandal and the chances of Russian athletes to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio

The Russian anti -doping agency suspended its work by decision of Wad

The leadership of the Russian Anti -Doping Agency in full force left the posts occupied. Executive Director Nikita Kamaev and Deputy General Director for International Cooperation Igor Zagorsky left their posts. Earlier, on December 10, Ramil Khabriev, General Director of Rusada, retired. According to the Sports Advisor, Minister of the Russian Federation Natalia Zhelinova, the decision was made in early December. “The Council of the founders of Rusad on December 10 accepted the resignation of the General Director of the Agency Ramil Khabriev, the rest of the leadership was resigned even earlier,” she told Interfax. Mass dismissals from the anti -doping agency are caused by the report of the commission of the World Anti -Doping Agency (WADA).

The question of the admission of Russian athletes to the Olympics remains open. So far, the All -Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA) is excluded from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). This means that athletes will not take part in international starts under the auspices of IAAF and will not be able to get to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

"The WADA commission in its investigation emphasized - violations in Russia are regular in nature"

The scandal began on November 9, 2015. Then the special commission of the World Anti -Doping Agency (WADA) published the results of the investigation of the work of the Russian anti -doping service (Rusad). The report went out voluminous-the 323-page document spoke about the universal corruption and the mass use of prohibited substances, including eminent athletes. Based on the results of the investigation, the commission recommended the International Association of athletics federations to disqualify VFLA, which was fulfilled.

Family secrets

The investigation for the most part was built on the testimony and materials of the married couple: the former chief specialist of the Russian anti -doping service, Vitaly Stepanov and his wife, Julia Stepanova. She, as a participant in the Russian national athletics team, was able to record several video and audio-fragments that formed the basis of the case. The records show how Russian coaches and sports functionaries convince athletes to take doping and give them prohibited drugs. The athlete’s husband, in turn, told the commission on systematic disorders during anti -doping inspections with an anti -doping service. The same materials formed the documentary of the German television channel Das Erste. The film-investigation “Top Services of Doping: How Russia makes its winners” was aired a year before the publication of the commission report in December 2014.

Based on the results of the work, the commission demanded for life to disqualify five athletes. Maria Farnov (Olympic champion 2012), Ekaterina Skstogova (bronze medalist of the Olympics), Anastasia Bazdyreva, Kristina Ugarova and Tatyana Meazina were included in the list.

“So far, the All -Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA) is excluded from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). This means that athletes will not take part in international starts under the auspices of IAAF and will not be able to get to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 ”

After the publication of the report, events began to develop rapidly. On November 10, the director of the Moscow Anti -Doping Center Grigory Rodchenkov resigned. On November 11, the French police arrested the former head of the International Association of athletics federations Lamin Diack. On November 13, the IAAF Council suspended the membership of the Russian Federation. For athletes, this meant only one - no Olympics. After 48 hours, the All -Russian Athletics Federation gathered for an emergency meeting at which they developed an “anti -crisis plan”. According to the Minister of Sports, Vitaly Mutko, the plan will help return the Russian association in IAAF "For two to three months." In general, Mutko is ready to make concessions in every possible way, if only the Russian national team did not fall under the next sports sanctions. “We are absolutely open and ready to put at least a foreign specialist at least a foreign specialist at least a foreign specialist, if necessary,” the Minister of the press said after publishing the results of the investigation.

Despite the critical situation, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach also noted that Russian athletes can still go to Rio. For this, the country's anti -doping organizations must comply with the general rules and the Convention on the fight against doping in sports signed in 2005.

The necessary shake

The WADA commission in its investigation emphasized that violations in Russia are regular. The very principle of the chasing of records went to Russian sports from the USSR. “And then and now the sport of high achievements was an indicator of the power of the state. However, now we have a base, and high results are not always possible to achieve, ”says Tatyana Lebedeva, multiple world champion in length jumping, member of the IAFF women's committee. According to her, this is what leads people to doping. “Dissatisfaction with the results is only one of the reasons. Much more often, the coaches simply do not understand what they give doping. They heard that the drug is working and using it, ”Lebedeva explains. This, of course, is not about a systematic and targeted violation of sports laws. “Therefore, it is necessary to develop culture, to teach coaches. The system needs to be cleaned and this is a necessary shake, ”the former athlete believes.

Sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev agrees with her. “This is the final cleansing that Russian athletics should pass after a series of scandals in the past,” concludes a commentator in an interview with NT . But was it worth it so hard to react to this - punish the whole team?

“The coach said that everything would cost, so there were no tantrums,” says Nadezhda , a participant in international sports walking competitions in an interview, “we are preparing what else we can do.” Russian starts are already taking place, the coach leads me to the peak for qualifying. Whether they will be or not is another question. I myself do not treat doping. His team, thank God, is not. Was it worth it to pull out the sides? It was probably. Those who are to blame should be punished, I think. But the whole national team cannot be punished - this is too much. ”

“Such a punishment (a ban on speaking at the Olympics. - NT ) destroys the whole philosophy of the fight against doping,” said sports observer Nikolai Musin (Soviet Sport, Radio KP). In his opinion, the whole essence of the anti -doping struggle is the protection of “pure” athletes and the punishment of “dirty”. “All our collections that apply for gold will be punished here. And those that were never involved in doping scandals. Isinbaeva, for example, ”emphasizes Mysin. And then he adds that in general, such changes will help sports “shake and restart” the system.

“The team all reacted to the scandal simply. No one panicked, did not suit tantrums. They will say - let's go. They will not say - we will prepare for the next start "

Is there a political background in the scandal? “Now no one shouts that we are offended because we are Russians. Both fans and officials realized that if the athlete was caught, then he did not need to justify him, ”explains Musin. Tatyana Lebedeva from Iaaf also noticed changes. “There are specific episodes, specific names are named. You need to deal with this, and not make excuses, ”she believes. The commentator Dmitry Guberniev partially agrees with the experts. “I do not believe in a worldwide conspiracy against Russia. But I can’t say that sport outside politics, ”he says. As an example, he cites the phrase of the head of a special commission, founder and former president of WADA Dick Pound. “We cannot be sure that there were no manipulations with doping and results at the Olympics in Sochi,” he said, speaking at a press conference after the publication of the investigation. Guberniev is confused by this approach. “I immediately remember the guys - Victor Ana, Anton Shipulin, Alexander Zubkov,” he remarks indignantly. And then he admits that “you can’t nod to politics forever,” and you need to fight with specific manifestations.

“Everyone achieves the goal as they can. I can’t say that doping is good or bad, ”said 400 meters in a conversation with NT in a conversation with NT .“ And if I say that this is wrong, many will not agree. ” But the main thing is always the result. The team all reacted to the scandal simply. No one panicked, did not suit tantrums. They will say - let's go. They will not say - we will prepare for the next start. We are bonded people, so I do not worry about the circumstances that do not depend on me. For us personally, disaster did not happen. We want to show the best result this season. It doesn’t matter what competitions this will happen in. ”

Sports functionaries talk about the prospects of the Russian team carefully, but with optimism. “I am absolutely sure that our athletes should act at international starts,” said Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko on this occasion on this occasion.

"Bedneous people"

The New Times talked with athletes who are waiting for the IAAF solution and continue to prepare for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Many asked not to call names, as they are afraid of response measures from the Federation and coaches. Many refused to comment. “I will not comment on anything. It does not seem interesting or important to me, ”said NT Natalya Antyukh, the Olympic champion in 400 meters with barriers. “For me, a big sport is just competitions, an opportunity for self -realization. Therefore, doping is unacceptable for me, ”says the winner and winner of international competitions in sprint. - Yes, now this is a part of the sport, unfortunately. But not for me. The guys are already accustomed to doping scandals, everyone knows that there is doping in sports, discuss this. Everyone has their own opinion, of course. The last scandal - blocks everyone else. But I think few of this situation will draw conclusions. The perpetrators, of course, need to be found and punished. Punish the entire national team is too much. I, and to put it mildly, surprises me, and guys. ”

“I'm already tired of discussing this: back and forth, drive the topic like chewing gum. We continue to prepare, ”says Sergey Shubenkov, a runner-barrier, winner of international competitions. - This is my job. I have to do it, regardless of whatever. Olympics in the summer - the crown of the season. We hope that everything will be successfully resolved, and we will get to the qualifying ones. I would even say that I am sure that the team will pass. Serious people are doing this now, they are working on this for a reason. ”

In order for athletes to allow Rio to comply with all WADA requirements, Tatyana Lebedeva from IAAF warns. “We have six months from the moment of publication, that is, until May 9, we must comply with all the instructions of the anti -doping service,” she says. There are a lot of prescriptions, and not all of them fit into Russian realities. So, WADA recommends removing all the coaches involved in the scandal of life. “Laws in Russia do not imply this. Any coach will then be able to contact the labor inspectorate, and he will be returned to work, ”says Lebedeva. In order for this restriction to work, it is necessary to introduce criminal liability for doping, and this is a rather long process, the former athlete notes. Nevertheless, both the ministry and athletes are ready to make concessions. After all, the summer Olympiad for athletes is one of the most noticeable and serious starts of four years. And for her sake it is worth abandoning doping and political tinsel.

Photo: Reuters