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'Therapeutic' Use of Banned Substances 'Trick' Abused by 'Dishonest Athletes'

© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov / Go to the mediabankDoping laboratory. File photo
Doping laboratory. File photo - Sputnik International
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In an interview with Sputnik, world champion and silver medalist of the Olympic Games in track and field athletics, Olga Bogoslovskaya, commented on the issue.

Answering the question of whether some athletes suffering from chronic conditions should be allowed to take potentially performance-enhancing drugs for medical reasons, Bogoslovskaya said that such practice can be used as a trick by "dishonest athletes and politicians."

"Of course, this is another trick by dishonest athletes and politicians who try to ensure that their citizens will end up on the podium and win gold and silver medals. I believe that if one person is allowed to do so, then it applies to everyone, or no one should be allowed to do it. If an athlete suffers some kind of illness, there is a Paralympic team. Or he or she can rest for a while, receive medical treatment, and then join the ranks again and prove his or her professionalism as a clean athlete," Bogoslovskaya told Sputnik.

In September, Fancy Bears hacker group published World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) documents, which revealed that many prominent athletes including Rafael Nadal, Simone Biles, Serena and Venus Williams, had been allegedly using banned drugs while using statements about serious diseases as an excuse.

"Anyone who looks at the Williams sisters, will wonder: Are these ladies so sick that they need such strong drugs? Of course, not. No sane person would ever think that top athletes can be all so sick. This is just a trick to win awards in a dishonest way," the athlete stated.

Venus Williams, of the United States, right, talks with her sister Serena after losing a point in a doubles match against Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova, of the Czech Republic, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Sputnik International
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In July, a WADA commission led by Canadian sports law professor Richard McLaren presented a report based on the investigation results, in which Russia was accused of running a state-wide doping program, urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider a blanket ban on the entire Russian team.

On December 9, McLaren presented the second part of the report on the alleged doping abuse in Russia. The report claimed that more than 1,000 Russian athletes were involved in doping manipulations or benefited from them. It also said that the Russian Sport Ministry and Russian Anti-doping agency (RUSADA) were involved in covering up the illegal practice.

"We are now able to confirm a cover up that dates back until at least 2011 and continued after the Sochi Olympic Games. It was a cover up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalized and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy," McLaren said at a news conference.

As a result of his previous report, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) banned Russian athletes from taking part in international competitions including the 2016 Summer Olympics. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) later banned all Russian Paralympic athletes from the 2016 Summer Paralympics and the 2018 Winter Games.

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