Russia will not voluntarily withdraw from official competitions such as the 2016 Summer Olympics, Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) Vice President Tatyana Lebedeva said in an interview with BBC Russia on Tuesday.
Lebedeva, winner of multiple track and field Olympic medals and a member of the Russian Federation Council, said that Russia “did not deny the existence of a doping problem, and was taking measures to combat it.”
She was referring to a damning report by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which provoked a backlash from some Russian officials.
“Of course, we will not withdraw from competition on our own initiative,” she told the BBC. “We have so many new faces; these are athletes of a completely different caliber. They compete internationally, pass doping tests, they have not been accused of anything. Being barred from the Olympics will be a tragedy for them.”
She added that Russia had implemented “fundamental reforms” after the release of the documentary made by the German network ARD.
The film alleged that ARAF officials encouraged athletes to dope, and positive test results were covered up by anti-doping governing bodies. The allegations were investigated by a WADA independent commission, whose 323-page report was released on Monday.
“The ARAF president resigned, we hired a new head coach for the national team, older coaches in individual disciplines are also being replaced,” Lebedeva said.
On Wednesday, International Olympics Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said in an interview with New Zealand television that he expected Russia to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Participation was conditional on the country “cooperating to make progress and to make sure Russian athletics are compliant [with WADA standards],” he said.
Meanwhile, the Moscow anti-doping lab accused of destroying blood samples had been suspended, and was preparing to pass new certification tests, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said, the TASS news agency reported.
The lab's director Grigory Rodchenkov, who drew criticism for referring to WADA investigators as “idiots,” resigned from his post on Tuesday.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.