MOGILEV, 22 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko commented on the recent doping scandals in sport while visiting Mogilevliftmash company, BelTA has learned.
“I strongly support the fight against doping. The state does not benefit from this,” the President said. However, Alexander Lukashenko underlined that he believes that the punishment should be individual. “If someone is caught doping, he should be punished. But how can you ban the whole team from the main sporting event – the Olympics? It is their whole lives!” the Belarusian leader said.
The head of state also commented on the situation around the Belarusian canoe and kayak team. “I inquired into the situation with our canoe team. They won 10 medals at the last world championships, and right after that they were slapped with the doping claims. They found 10 or 12 Mildronate pills on the doctor who did not have anything to do with the team and who had a prescription for these pills. What are 10 pills? It is nothing, even if you use them. But they decided to suspend the entire team. We started to look into this matter and found out that there are no facts,” the President said.
Alexander Lukashenko underlined that the Belarusian sports officials were instructed to travel to Switzerland to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport to defend the rights of Belarusian athletes. “We must protect our guys if they are not guilty. And if they are, they will be held accountable. The punishment will be very tough because they disgrace the country,” the President said.
“These approaches, namely to punish collectively because someone said something while there are no facts to back these claims up, to pressurize those who could win a medal at the Olympics, show that sport has become big politics. Sport is turning into some kind of battlefield. This is wrong,” the head of state said.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the fight against doping is necessary, but this process should be exceptionally honest. “I think that if, after the Olympics and such scandals, the International Olympic Committee fails to deal with this issue, its credibility will be questioned. Why do we need such a committee that has the authority but cannot put things right?” the President wondered.
