Putin Says Russia Will Punish Athletes for Doping, Create Monitoring System

© REUTERS / Nacho DoceA woman walks past Olympic rings placed at the entrance of a office building ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 19, 2016.
A woman walks past Olympic rings placed at the entrance of a office building ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 19, 2016. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Russia is going no only to bring to justice those athletes who responsible for positive doping tests, but also to establish effective system to fight doping, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting with Russian athletes.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Wednesday for the development of single international doping-control requirements, saying that both athletes and fans should have open access to information.

President Putin holds meeting with Russian Government - Sputnik International
Putin Calls for Independent Anti-Doping Committee With Foreign Experts
"We believe that in order to effectively and not selectively fight doping, common international requirements for doping control should be developed. And of course, athletes and fans should have open access to the results of inspections," Putin said.

Speaking to athletes ahead of next week’s Rio Olympics, the head of state pointed out that the newly established Anti-Doping Commission headed by Vitaly Smirnov would work closely and transparently with international organizations.

"We intend to bring to justice all those involved in doping scandals, regardless of rank and merit, but more importantly to create a positive system of preventing doping in sport in accordance with the national anti-doping plan, whose development as you know we have already started," Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also promised that Russia would defend the honor of its athletes and called on them to show the world that Russians could win honestly and openly.

"I want you to know: without a doubt, we are proud of you. And we shall do everything to defend your sporting honor and dignity. Justice will prevail," Putin said.

"I sincerely hope that you will demonstrate your talents and skill, show the whole world that we can win honestly and openly. Our great big country will be rooting for you," the president said.

Many Russian athletes suffer unjustly without specific charges brought against them, as the situation with short-sighted politicians has gone beyond legal framework and common sense, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Today there are gathered here those who have long been preparing for the main contest of every four years and who deserve the right to defend Russia's sporting honor. However, unfortunately, not everyone will be able to fulfill their dreams. And it should be said that short-sighted politicians are not willing to leave sports alone. Although it is sport that is supposed to bring nations together and ease tensions existing between countries," Putin said.

The Olympics rings are seen on a fence in front of the Russian Olympic Committee building in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 24, 2016. - Sputnik International
Former US Olympic Wrestling Champion Opposes Overall Ban on Russian Athletes
"The current situation has gone beyond not only the legal framework but common sense. A campaign targeting our athletes, with so-called double standards and the principle of collective responsibility, which is incompatible with sports and with justice and basic legal principles, or, as they put it, the repudiation of the presumption of innocence," Putin added.

Many Russian athletes have suffered unjustly for facing doping suspicions without concrete accusations, President Vladimir Putin said, suggesting medals won at the Rio Olympics would be clouded in light of some Russian athletes' absence.

"Many of our athletes have been unfairly affected, against whom I want to emphasize no concrete charges backed by evidence have been put forward. This in effect delivers a blow to the entire global sport and the Olympic Games," Putin said.

Speaking to members of the Russian team ahead of the August 5-21 games, the president pointed out that the quality and sample of the foreign athletes’ medals "will be different."

Russian skating fan holds the country's national flag over the Olympic rings before the start of the men's 10,000-meter speedskating race at Adler Arena Skating Center during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. (File) - Sputnik International
Bannig Russia From Rio Games Will be a Disaster for Olympic Movement
"It is one thing to win among equal, strong contenders. It is quite another matter to compete with those who are clearly below you in class. It is a completely different taste of victory, perhaps even a bad taste," Putin said.

"It is clear that the absence of Russian athletes, leaders in many events, will notably reduce the heat of struggle, and hence the entertainment value of upcoming events," he stressed.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) managed to avoid splitting the Olympic movement despite pressure and adverse media coverage, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"The International Olympic Committee, despite huge overt pressure and, as it seems, specifically created negative media coverage, avoided splitting the Olympic movement and gave international federations for different kinds of sports the right to decide whether to allow the [Russian] athletes to participate," Putin said.

The president added that the exact number of Russian athletes that would be allowed to compete in the Olympics in Rio remained unknown, while the Games are less than two weeks away.

"And such uncertainty, naturally, influences athletes' preparation," Putin said.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала