World Swimming Coaches Lambast Russia For Using Coronavirus As A Plea Bargain In Doping Ban

Russian wants its past sins forgiven and forgotten but has forgotten, so far, to apologise for systematic doping and the resulting abuse of its athletes and many others around the world

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Swimming coaches around the world have lambasted Russian attempts to use the global coronavirus pandemic as a plea-bargain tool to have the country’s Olympic ban dropped and open the doors to staging cancelled and postponed events in Russia because sport should “be together” at a time of crisis.

Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin yesterday called on Olympic bosses, anti-doping chiefs and judges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to set aside the ban on Russian.

He suggested that his country could help to bailout other nations more stricken by the virus and facing economic hardship after containment measures come to an end. Russian could, he suggested, take over the hosting of international sports events cancelled and postponed elsewhere. Under the current Olympic ban, Russia is barred from hosting certain categories of international sports events.

As the worldwide swimming community took to social media to decry the Russian move, the World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) weighed in with a strong statement in which it declares that the world “can band together to fight the scourge of this virus and we can band together to fight the scourge of doping”.

The WSCA Statement In Full

The World Swimming Coaches Association finds it impossible to “forget” Russia’s Olympic doping ban and is disgusted by Russia’s attempt to use a global pandemic to sweep away years of doping that was organized at the highest levels of government.

Before something can be “forgotten,” it must be forgiven. Unfortunately for Russia, before something can be forgiven, there must be confession and contrition.

More relevant to Russia’s sordid doping history than the Coronavirus is this month of Passover, Easter and Ramadan. Global themes of sacrifice, contrition and forgiveness abound, but they are all absent in Russia’s tone-deaf and cowardly attempt to hide behind the protective gear of healthcare workers all over the world.

In Russia, those same healthcare workers were perverted from their natural role as courageous healers to backroom cheaters. Mr. Matytsin must apologize to so many individuals and groups before the world can “forget,” but he should start with his fellow countrymen and women.

He should apologize to the medical professionals that Russia turned from heroes to scoundrels. He should apologize to Russian athletes who will compete under a shadow of doubt for generations. He should apologize to the Russian people for stealing their heroes and replacing them with cheaters.

The world can hold two ideas at the same time. We can band together to fight the scourge of this virus and we can band together to fight the scourge of doping. We won’t forget that easily.

If Mr. Matytsin wants the world to “forget,” start by asking for forgiveness. Confess. Show remorse. Become transparent. The world remembers.

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Jenia Swimming

4 years ago

Russia is a terrorist country.

Riley Malcolmson

4 years ago

Russia really has no honour when it comes to clean sports, this is just shameful

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Riley Malcolmson как будто среди ваших спортсменов нет тех, кто употребляет допинг, сколько ловили, только никого нигде и никода не исключали полным составом из участии в ОИ. Это политика и все ваши пречитания смешны, потому что это популизм, когда увидел соринку в глазе друга,а бревно у себя в глазу не заметил

Riley Malcolmson

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Ольга Ижицкая I’m Canadian and we are proud to be clean, can your athletes say the same?

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Riley Malcolmson вы так и не поняли о чем я написала, оставайтесь популистами. В вашей стране никто разве не был пойман на допинге? Изучите внимательно вопрос

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Riley Malcolmson как насчет Laurence Vincent-Lapointe? К примеру

Riley Malcolmson

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Ольга Ижицкая we had one athlete (Ben Johnson) in 1987, how many have you had in the last decade alone? Not to mention a state sponsored doping program

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Riley Malcolmson еще раз, что вы скажете про Laurence Vincent-Lapointe?

Riley Malcolmson

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Ольга Ижицкая she was found not guilty

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Что и требоыалось доказать. Ваши ответы говорят лишь о том что вам качественно промывают мозги

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Riley Malcolmson

Riley Malcolmson попробуйте прочитать другую версию https://yandex.ru/turbo?text=https%3A%2F%2Faif.ru%2Fsport%2Fother%2Fsportsmenku_iz_kanady_poymali_na_dopinge_ona_obyasnila_vse_seksom&check_swipe=1

Mike Mcgowan

4 years ago

What do you expect from them.

Ольга Ижицкая

4 years ago

Reply to Mike Mcgowan

Mike Mcgowan Riley Malcolmson как будто среди ваших спортсменов нет тех, кто употребляет допинг, сколько ловили, только никого нигде и никода не исключали полным составом из участии в ОИ. Это политика и все ваши пречитания смешны, потому что это популизм, когда увидел соринку в глазе друга,а бревно у себя в глазу не заметил

Mike Mcgowan

4 years ago

Reply to Mike Mcgowan

Ольга Ижицкая I have been in this sport for 62 years. I remember the USSR. So don’t go there with me.