Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 26 December (BelTA) – It is necessary to keep politics out of the war on doping in sports. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement during the informal meeting of the CIS heads of state in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence of the Russian president near Moscow on 26 December, BelTA has learned.

Speaking about the situation regarding the inability of the Russian team to take part in the forthcoming Olympics in South Korea, Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus supports Russia’s fight against doping. Alexander Lukashenko once again said that athletes must not use doping, however, only those, who use doping for a fact, should be punished. “If you haven’t caught them red-handed, you must keep quiet and must not use such sanctions,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

As an example he mentioned the situation when the Belarusian rowing team, one of the world’s strongest teams in this kind of sport, was not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games Rio 2016 due to far-fetched reasons. “We managed to secure the truth in court two or three months later, but time was already up,” stated the head of state. Apart from lost medals the country’s image was hurt, stated Alexander Lukashenko.

Alexander Lukashenko once again repeated that only the athletes, who are caught using doping, should be punished. “If you don’t know whether someone is guilty or not, don’t politicize the process. Otherwise, it is nothing but political sanctions against a country,” added the Belarus president.