Alexander Zhukov: ‘ The IOC Executive Committee made extremely important decisions’

President of the ROC commented on the reformation of the international anti-doping system.

‘I think, that the IOC Executive Committee made extremely important decisions. We fully share and support the IOC’s position on key principles of reforming the international anti-doping system, which is broadly similar to the proposals that we made at the Olympic summit in Lausanne.
 
We fully share and support the position of the IOC on the key principles of reforming the international anti-doping system, which are in many ways consonant with the proposals that we, for our part, made at the Olympic summit in Lausanne.

First of all, it refers to the principle of WADA’s independence from the interests of certain sports organizations  and from any national interests. At the same time, sports federations and governments of countries, as equal parties should have equal  representative office in the highest governing bodies of WADA.

The Russian Olympic Committee fully supports the decision to create a new doping testing body, independent and neutral in relation to all countries and athletes. This is a very correct direction.

ITA will develop an individual test plan, well in advance determine  the number of tests that each athlete must pass, irrespective of their country of origin, in each sport, in order to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Thus, no one will be discriminated against by reason of national origin, everyone will be guaranteed an equal and transparent approach in the field of anti-doping testing. And the national anti-doping organizations will have to comply with these regulations under the control of WADA.

It is also very important that the role of athletes in the leading anti-doping structures will be strengthened. In this regard, the election of Elena Isinbayeva as the Chairman of the RUSADA Supervisory Board is fully in line with the principles declared by the IOC.

And, of course, the ROC agrees with the decision of the IOC Executive Committee that all sanctions against athletes, coaches, officials, doctors and other persons convicted or suspected of involvement in doping stories should be determined only by the International Sports Arbitration Court’, said Alexander Zhukov.