The elimination of Norwegian athletes in the context of the elimination of the Russian national team could kill all skiing, because there will be no strongest skiers, Vitaly Smirnov, Honorary President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) , honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told .
Earlier, Norwegian sports officials expressed concern about possible global sanctions against their athletes and federations due to the legal barrier that does not allow doping tests of young athletes according to the WADA code. Nils Einar Martin Os, general secretary of the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF), explained that WADA’s sanctions could include both fines and disqualification from hosting major international competitions. And in the future – a ban on participation in major tournaments.
– If you eliminate the Norwegians, eliminate the Russians, eliminate a few more countries, all skiing will die. There will be no competition, because there will be no strongest athletes. If you know, the first cross-country skiing championship in Norway was held in 1773, and 40 years before that skiing was included in the Norwegian military training program. Can you imagine the traditions there?
Before you criticize anyone, you need to understand if it will benefit the sport? I don’t think the suspension of the Norwegian athletes, as well as the withdrawal of the Russians, is good for anyone. Sport cannot develop without rivalry, competition between the best and the best. It is unlikely that the Norwegians passed their laws just to hide the use of doping. At least I don’t think so,” Smirnov told a correspondent.
Source : MatchTV
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