Russia Rules Out PyeongChang Boycott

(ATR) A Kremlin spokesperson says that Russia is not prepared to boycott the 2018 Olympics in response to a decision taken by the IOC.

The comments by Dmitry Peskov do not guarantee a Russian presence in PyeongChang during the 2018 Winter Olympics. However, the statement signals that a potential compromise could have been reached that would allow a limited form of Russian participation in PyeongChang.

Tomorrow the IOC Executive Board will meet and review findings from the Schmid Commission on the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping lab in Sochi. Media reports suggest that executive board members have received Schmid’s report to read before tomorrow’s meeting.

"No, [a boycott] is not under consideration," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said to TASS. "We oppose the violation of our athletes’ rights, we are against groundless violations of rights, but at the same time, Russia remains committed to the Olympic ideas, as President Putin said, it is his decision."

Evgeni Plushenko, four-time gold medalist in figure skating from Russia, said in a statement provided to Around the Rings a solution of having athletes compete under a neutral flag would be "unfair" to athletes who are clean. Plushenko said he hoped the IOC would consider that a neutral flag decision would rob Russian athletes of the "greatest honor" of competing under their own flag.

"Of all my achievements in sport, representing Russia at the Olympic Games was by far the most important and proudest; I cannot imagine that feeling would be the same if I was asked to compete under the neutral flag," Plushenko said. "To ask our clean athletes to do this would be unfair on them and all their competitors who in some way would feel that the competition and Olympic spirit would have been devalued."

Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov told TASS that he believed the IOC Executive Board would act "reasonably and objectively" in any decision. Still, Kolobkov said that Russian authorities would be prepared to go to court to protect the interest of national athletes.

"All we can do is go to court and protect the interests of our guys whom we consider to be champions," Kolobkov said. "But those people do not hear our voice, their media have been given certain instructions, but it is harmful not only to the Russian sports industry but to the global one, as well.

"If the decision is negative, then we will not give in to emotions, as there is a need to analyze everything that is going on and make a well-considered decision. We understand it all, nothing happens without a reason. We are getting ready, we have serious lawyers."

Whistleblowers Offer Different Solutions

Two whistleblowers at the center of the Russia state-sponsored doping scandal have different ideas on how the country should be punished by the IOC.

Vitaly Stepanov, one of the whistleblowers to the German documentary that exposed the Russian scheme, said in testimony to the IOC that Russia should be banned from the 2018 Games. Stepanov’s testimony was obtained by the BBC.

"Hundreds of Olympic dreams have been stolen by the doping system" in Russia, Stepanov said in the testimony. "If these athletes compete in the 2018 Winter Games it will add to the injustices suffered by clean athletes and your commission can prevent this."

Stepanov worked for the Russia Anti-Doping Agency while his wife Yulia was an 800m runner for Russia. Both are now in hiding in the United States and have said that there have been threats against their lives from Russia.

In the testimony Stepanov also said that former Russian Sports Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko was at the center of the Sochi scheme and encouraged the doping scheme as far back at 2010. The testimony said that Mutko received assistance in the scheme from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Both Mutko and Putin have denied a state-sponsored scheme and have repeatedly said that former Moscow anti-doping lab director Grigory Rodchenkov acted on his own to dope athletes without their knowledge. Earlier this month, Russia issued an arrest warrant for Rodchenkov, who like the Stepanovs, is living in hiding in the United States.

The IOC Oswald Commission’s first decision reasoning disputes this. The reasoning confirmed Rodchenkov’s testimony to the World Anti-Doping Agency independent investigation by Professor Richard McLaren. Meticulous notes taken by Rodchenkov in a personal diary, reported by the New York Times, were part of his testimony to the IOC commissions.

Through his lawyer, Rodchenkov told ESPN that he believes "innocent" athletes should feature in PyeongChang under a neutral flag. Russian authorities had previously dismissed such a proposal.

"I wish Tuesday began with a confession and apology from Russia, which would give the world confidence they might embrace truth and reform," Rodchenkov said to ESPN, via his American lawyer. "This is not the Russian way. If they are not disciplined seriously, they will be laughing at the IOC behind closed doors and plotting their next caper."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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