Lysenko, World Athletics Championship medalist: “I still owe a lot to Western lawyers”

Two-time Russian athletics champion Danil Lysenko spoke of the enormous debt owed to the Swiss lawyers who helped him in the doping case.

The athlete specializes in high jump. He is a silver example of the World Championship. In July 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended Lysenko for six years (two of which were suspended) for anti-doping rule violations and interference in results management. Following the investigation, it was reported that the athlete had provided false documents explaining why he was unable to pass doping tests.

— Who paid for the services of Western lawyers? Nobody. I still owe them a lot. We initially agreed that I would repay all my debts in installments as soon as I took part in international competitions. Today, the lawyers continue to write to me periodically demanding payment, but how and where can I earn money to pay them? No way and nowhere.

As for training, at the time the decision was made, I had a year and a half left before leaving. About six months before my disqualification ended, I started training. I really wanted to jump. Although at some point, while the debates were going on, I completely gave up and saw no point in continuing to jump. I found a job and had no time to train at all. But when I had the opportunity to return to the gym, I realized how much I missed competitions. I really wanted to prove that everyone who had written me off was wrong. I read derogatory comments from people with whom I seemed to communicate normally before, and it excited me more and more. Very motivating.

“It is unlikely that you will earn so much money playing in Russia. This is not the Diamond League. I really hope that I will be able to pay. But so far I do not even have anything to answer to people,” Lysenko told RT.

RT

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