Doping at Lovcheva: politics or shame? – Mail.Ru

On Thursday evening, in the information space new doping bomb exploded. Samples of four Russian weightlifters made at the recent World Championships in Houston gave a positive result. In violation of the rules of fair play are suspected Olga Zubova (bronze in the weight category up to 75 kg), Olga Afanasiev (4th place in the weight category up to 69 kg), Alexey Kosov (7th place in the weight category up to 94 kg) and the main sensation of the competition – heavyweight Alexey Lovchev.

OPENING SEASON

26-year-old Lovchev was one of the discoveries of the sports year. And it is not about the Russian scale, but of the world. Because the injured meniscus issue with his participation at the World Championships until the last was in limbo. Knee pain was so severe that even a few weeks before the main start, Alex barely got out of bed. However, the operation that is recommended by doctors, the athlete refused – decided to be treated by conservative methods and to try his luck in the United States. What was the surprise of all, when the Russians broke the world record in clean and jerk (264 kg) and as a consequence – for the double-event (475 kg).

The world record in the heavyweight division – a phenomenon peculiar. Exactly as the holder of the fastest seconds in the hundred-meter race called the fastest man in the world, and the world record holder in the 105 kg weight over all recognize the most powerful man on earth. Before such people bow in any country at any time. Names Yury Vlasov Leonid Zhabotinsky and Vasily Alexeev known far beyond the sports arenas.

World record, which is interrupted in Houston Lovchev, stood for 15 years. It is inconceivable for a lot of weightlifting. Previous achievements in 2001 established the great Iranian athlete Hossein Rezazadeh. Just imagine what caused the resonance results Russians in Houston?

At the same time called Alexei yo-the-box is also impossible. He – bronze medalist of the World Cup in 2013 and European champion in 2014. In the US Lovchev snatch even one kg to gleaning personal record in the clean and jerk and broke his personal achievement to 7 kg. Many, especially at this level, but such precedents in weightlifting were.

Lovcen asked not to hurry with the charges

The sportsman took dumped upon them glory rather quietly. “Thank you! I just tried to really celebrate our great country! “- He wrote me in one of the social networks in response to the congratulations. Athlete giving interviews, went on TV and every time presented himself to the positive side. Modest, patriotic. To him very quickly clung nickname “Russian hero.” And suddenly the news ….

– I am perplexed – Lovchev said in an interview, “All Sports”. – Where in my body could appear something banned? My goal – the Olympics, I went to her for many years. Strictly observe the anti-doping legislation. After reviewing the entire list of suspended athletes on the basis of Doping Control at the World Cup, I think it is a problem more political plan. All this is very similar to the continuation of the play, directed against the Russian sports. I’m not going to give up, take all the steps provided for anti-doping legislation in order to prove his innocence – including through the opening of the control sample “B”. Now I ask all amateur and professional weightlifting not to talk to the athletes harsh words. The situation is very complicated. Let’s be patient and wait for further development of its .

With the difficult political situation binds occurred and Olympic champion in 1976, many years of former chief and the senior coach of the Russian David Riegert.

– For a long time it was necessary to wait for the “stink” – said Riegert. – I’m not talking about what Lovchev certainly applied doping, and that the pressure that is currently on our country. Athletics, heavy … And may soon emerge and other sports where we something conquer. More than confident the whole thing in politics. Regarding the phenomenal results of Alexey, I can say that he was ready for them. We know this guy. But now he will have a tough life. I myself have repeatedly experienced such times. The same 1985, the year when we choked as they could. We must endure.

President of the Weightlifting Federation of Russia Sergey Sirtcov also gave a comment on what happened.

– Do not rush to do any conclusion – advised Sirtcov in a conversation with “all sports”. – Now we will have a difficult and long procedure connected with the realization of the rights of athletes to opening control samples “B”. Many in this story we do not understand. For example, a quick announcement of the results doping tests «A». Also earlier weightlifting competition has never been such a large number of athletes, doping test «A» which gave a positive result. At the end of the World Cup in Houston they have 24!

Ministry of Sports will fight for Lovcen

The reaction of the athlete and sports management at an event fairly predictable. In world practice, there were very few cases in which a party suspected of doping, he immediately agreed with the charges. At the same time, everyone understands that the chances for a positive outcome in this case is practically no.

While this is the situation really is very strange. Doping in weightlifting no surprise. But in light of recent events in athletics every Russian team before leaving for the international competition “verified” as thoroughly as possible. Each athlete in the body that has the slightest signs of traces of prohibited substances – stays at home. This did not always justified. All understand everything – now it is better to be safe. Against this background, the four positive samples, and even in a sport that is firmly located on the top lines of doping risks, look something incredible.

The shock stays and sports minister.

– I can not always keep an answer for everything – quoted by TASS Vitaly Mutko. – This is – a personal choice of athletes and coaches. They leave completely tested in the competition. Who’s there “Tinkering”? We will fight for Lovcheva. If you can not – be strict measures. I think the president of the Federation should then go together with the head coach.

– To be honest, I do not quite understand what the comments are all waiting by the Ministry of Sports, because we do not have to do with the consideration of the case, – said Advisor to the Minister sports on anti-doping Natalia Zhelanova. – Samples were taken at the World Championships in Houston commissioned by the Anti-Doping Organization – apparently, in this case, it was an international federation. All future decisions on the fate of the athletes will be taking it in accordance with its rules. RUSADA, regardless of its current status, no relation to the consideration of the case has not. Moreover, the Ministry of Sport, in accordance with current Russian anti-doping rules are not allowed to comment on the case prior to a final decision.