Vitaly Mutko: suspension of Russian athletes will lower interest in athletics in the world – Kommersant

Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko said the decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspended the membership of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) within the organization, and to remove the Russian athletes from international competitions will reduce interest in athletics in the world. “What will happen? Yes, there will be nothing, athletics will develop, guys will train. Well, miss, maybe one tournament, the winter championship. Maybe a good idea, even without us Compete. The fact that the interest (in the world), they fell to athletics – is yes. If you give a clear requirement, we will do. If this again is not demagoguery, we were told that nothing improves. Nonsense is all “, – he said Mr. Mutko agency« R-Sport ».

According to him, the Ministry of Sports of Russia offered IAAF own decision to suspend the accreditation VFLA and temporarily lay leadership in this kind of sports on the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). “I had another option, and it was proposed that we have temporarily suspended themselves accredited by the federation, put temporary leadership of this sport on the Olympic Committee. Then, from the Olympic Committee athletes could participate. The options are many, “- said Mr. Mutko.

He also said that the Russian side does not exclude the option of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne in connection with the suspension of membership VFLA composed IAAF. “Think about whether to appeal to the CAS, study. I do not rule out such an option. Let’s talk with the leaders of IAAF, they explained to us. The appeal whether or road map “- the minister said.

As reported by” Kommersant », IAAF still decided to disqualify VFLA indefinitely in light promulgated at the beginning of the week Report of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which dealt with the situation of systematic violations of anti-doping regulations in Russia. This means that jeopardized the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Details of the decision of the IAAF, read the material “b”, “Russia took over doping ».