Uladzimir Parfianovich: No politics, just sport

Doping scandals that resulted in non-admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are caused solely by taking prohibited drugs.

The causes of doping scandals that led to non-admission at the Olympic Games in Rio Russian and Belarusian athletes, Uladzimir Parfianovich, triple Olympic champion, explains briefly: “What’s use of commenting on a doping scandal? Don’t take illegal drugs and there will be no scandals."

A month ago three-time Olympic champion in rowing has returned to Belarus from Poland, where he worked as one of the coaches of the national team of Poland. "Few athletes got to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro", - Uladzimir Parfianovich explains the reason for his return to the “EuroBelarus” Information Service.

On July 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), contrary to forecasts, refused to decide on the participation of the Russian national team in the tournament and gave this right to international sports federations. They are encouraged to promptly develop the criteria for admission of Russian athletes and make a correspondent decision. This means that every single federation will decide the fate of the Russian athletes at the Olympic Games-2016. At the same time, this means that the Russian track-and-field athletes won’t take part in the Olympic Games.

Earlier the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the claims of 68 Russian athletes to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Prior to that, IAAF dismissed the Russian national team of participation in international competitions and has rejected all individual applications submitted by Russian athletes for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro but for a long jumper Darya Klishina.

The coach categorically rejects any political motivation in doping scandals. Neither he sees anything strange in the IOC’s "decision worthy of Solomon":

"The IOC consists of international federations. I see nothing strange in such decision: the Committee itself is up to its neck in corruption. Therefore, there is nothing to be surprised about."

Let’s leave the Russians alone; however, the Belarusian Olympic team has suffered losses, too. On July 25 the National Olympic Committee announced the membership of the Belarusian delegation for the Olympic Games in Rio. All in all, 123 sportsmen and 57 coaches are going to Rio de Janeiro. Seven Belarusian athletes, who won Olympic licenses in kayaking and canoeing won’t be able to perform at the Olympic Games-2016.

As is known, on March 26 the employees of the French national anti-doping agency took samples from eight Belarusian rowers. In five of them traces of meldonium were found, the use of which has been banned since January 1, 2016. Since at that time the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has not yet decided on the period of elimination of the drug from the body, and a few hundred cases of athletes from different countries got stuck.

Positive samples triggered a search in the camp of the Belarusian team on April 12.

Everyone had to undergo a closer examination: athletes, coaches, and doctors.

"Take a look at how the competition intensified. Often unsportsmanlike methods of pressure on individual athletes and the whole country are used. Scandals, loud disclosures, review of the results of the past competition are often used. You can see it for yourself, you understand and, I'm sure, you are worried. The conditions for the competition won’t be easy in Rio. I am sure you will cope with this tremendous stress and show good results", - Aliaksandr Lukashenka hinted at politics during the solemn sendoff of the Belarusian sports delegation to the XXXI summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.

Uladzimir Parfianovich sees no politics in the non-admission of Belarus men's team in canoeing and kayaking on the Olympic Games:

- If I had WADA report as well as the report of the police and the prosecutor's office in France, then it would have been possible to comment on the situation. There is a provision that says that if the three athletes from one country – youth, adults, men or women – got caught doping in the course of one year – they are expelled! It's simple - there is no need to look for politics there, no need to say that the great Belarusian team that wins 100 gold medals is not allowed to the Olympics for political reasons.

- There is no politics, just sport. And stop exaggerating, - Uladzimir Parfianovich concluded.