"Of course, one can speculate about the need to reform CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, especially after the IOC had not been satisfied with its decisions. But it is absolutely normal to think then of reforming WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the International Olympic Committee, too, particularly, over the lack of their ability to act in compliance with democratic procedures. Because this is an obvious sign of degeneration of the initial ideology of the Olympic movement, of these organizations' Olympic spirit," Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said.
The speaker has welcomed CAS' decision.
"We do not know these people in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but I believe that we should be grateful for the fact that, despite the severe pressure, they found the courage to be guided in their decision by objective data and principles of the Olympic movement," Matvienko told reporters.
A similar stance was expressed by Head of the State Duma Sports Committee Mikhail Degtyarev, who suggested to consider reforming the International Olympic Committee.
"Part of the Russian athletes are still under sanctions. This shows the in-depth approach of the CAS to every specific case… That is why Bach's statement is disappointing and oppressing. It demonstrates once again that the whole Russian case is politically motivated," Head of the State Duma Sports Committee Mikhail Degtyarev told reporters on Sunday.
The comment was made in the wake of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach's statement made earlier in the day, saying that the CAS decision to overturn lifetime bans for over two dozen Russian athletes demonstrated the need for reform in the internal structure of the court.
READ MORE: IOC Head Says CAS Ruling on Russian Athletes Showed Need for Court's Reforming
Bach's announcement follows the CAS decision revealed on February 1, ruling to support the appeals of 28 Russian athletes against the IOC Disciplinary Commission's decisions on their disqualification and ban from the Olympics for life over violating anti-doping rules, and partially upheld the remaining 11 appeals.
Previously, the IOC annulled the results of several Russian athletes had received at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games over alleged doping violations by these athletes. According to Bach's statements in December, the medals would be reallocated to other athletes during the upcoming Pyeongchang games.
