Without a chance

The Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko commented on the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to support the extension of sanctions against Russian athletes, because of which the athletes will not be allowed to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. According to the minister, Russian athletes have no chance of getting on games now, but Russia will still fight to the end.

On Friday, the Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) upheld the disqualification of the All -Russian Athletics Federation (VFLA) and, accordingly, the removal of Russian athletes from international competitions. On Saturday, a telephone conference of the Executive Committee of the IOC dedicated to this issue was held. The IOC Executive Committee said that “completely respects the IAAF position,” and the criteria for the selection of athletes for any international competitions, including the Olympic Games, are the issue of the relevant international federation.

“Judging by the statement (IOC), our athletes (to participate in the Olympics) have no chances. We will still be to the very end (fight). Our position is understandable. Responsibility should be personal in nature, not collective. Light athletics is an individual sport, there are 47 disciplines, and in each decision is made. If someone is punished in some, where is all athletics? ”Vitaly Mutko said in an interview with the R-Sport agency.

"I can say one thing: this is a pure policy"

Two -time Olympic champion in sixth jumping Elena Isinbaeva on Saturday also commented on the decision of the IAAF Council on the ban on Russian athletes to participate in the Olympic Games, calling it “political”.

“I can say one thing: no matter how much they claimed that the politician was not involved there, in my opinion, this is a pure policy. And all of them there somehow depend on someone. And clearly this decision was made, guided by something, but not by the Olympic principles, not the principles of sports. This is unambiguous, ”R-sport of the words of Isinbaeva quotes.

Earlier, the athlete announced his intention to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in order to prove the violation of the rights of Russian athletes detached IAAF from the competition.

We add that the head of IAAF Sebastian COU stated that any athlete from Russia could challenge the decision to prevent international competitions in the sports arbitration court (CAS).

The IAAF Council meeting itself was held on Friday, June 17, in Vienna. Russia was represented by a member of the Council Mikhail Butov. The IAAF Council did not restore the VFLA membership, not allowing Russian athletes to perform at international starts.

"This is completely incomprehensible to me"

At a meeting with journalists as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (PMEF), President Vladimir Putin called the detachment of Russian athletes that did not use doping from the competition and expressed hope to a fair reaction of the International Olympic Committee.

“Responsibility should always be personified. If one of the members of your family has committed an offense-what is it fair to hold all family members, including you personally? This is not done anywhere, and people who have nothing to do with violations, why should they suffer for others? ” - said Putin, his words quoted by RIA Novosti .

The President also expressed a misunderstanding of the situation when pure athletes should suffer. “Why should pure athletes suffer? This is completely incomprehensible to me. I hope that we will find some solution here. But this does not mean at all that we are going to be offended and say that we will not fight doping. Just the opposite, we will increase the fight against doping, ”said the head of state.

In turn, the deputy chairman of the Russian government Arkady Dvorkovich, commenting on the IAAF decision, said that it is discriminatory. “It is necessary to punish those who accept doping, and not“ pure ”athletes. We will fight for them, ”he promised.

On June 21, the IOC will hold a special meeting on the question of whether individual athletes deserve an individual approach or should be collective responsibility if some athletes are removed from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which will be held from August 5 to 21 of this year.