“Karpin is a top specialist. The RFU’s decision is justified and will bring results.” Interview with the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Degtyarev

— Among all the sports cars presented at the Silk Way Rally, which one would you like to take the wheel and drive the special stage?

— I will tell you a secret: in Minsk, Sergei Vyazovich (leader and driver of the MAZ-SPORTauto team – approx. ) took me for a ride in his truck. It’s incredible, of course, I was impressed by the trip. Motorsport, in addition to great courage, requires very serious physical preparation. However, this is a powerful load on the body and spine.

Today I met Sergei, they remembered Minsk, 2022, he took me for a ride in MAZ and in 2023 he won the Silk Way rally. Or maybe it’s a coincidence: Zenit played the Russian Cup superfinal with Baltika. I arrived at the stadium when the St. Petersburg club was losing 0: 1, but then they scored twice in 10 minutes and won the trophy.

— Where is the Russian Minister of Sports, is there a victory?

— There is order (smiling).

— Mikhail Vladimirovich, since you mentioned football. Recently, the Russian Football Union extended the contract with the head coach of the national team Valery Karpin. How do you assess this decision?

— Valery Georgievich is a high-level specialist who can unite a team. It seems to me that this decision is justified and will bring results.

— During meetings with ministers of other countries, is the question of holding friendly matches with the Russian national team raised?

– Certainly. The latest news is that Iran and North Korea wanted to play with us. Everyone wants to meet Russia, we are open to real sports cooperation and friendship, we invite everyone. Russia has never engaged in any political or national discrimination, and this will not happen in the future either at the level of state institutions, or at the level of sports federations, or at the level of non-profit organizations. This is not our method, as the classic said.

We are not slamming doors anywhere. We will continue to work to improve legislation and continue to establish zero tolerance for doping. We recently met with Veronica Loginova, she does a lot of work as the CEO of RUSADA. We will also continue this work. I wrote a doctoral thesis on this topic and presented it to Veronica.

I am sure that WADA will make a positive decision regarding RUSADA sooner or later.

— In June, WADA cited RUSADA’s work as an example for USADA. Is that also a positive thing?

— Yes, sooner or later a CAS meeting will take place and a decision on RUSADA’s compliance will be made. This will happen in the coming year. My prediction is as follows.

— Russian judokas refused to participate in the Olympic Games. This happened after the International Olympic Committee significantly reduced the number of our athletes who could compete in Paris and did not include all the strongest in the remaining list. How did you react to this?

– This is an unfair fight – discriminatory measures that, unfortunately, are taken by some federations and international institutions. I am sure that this phenomenon is temporary, but it is aimed at eliminating the strongest athletes. World sport is losing without the Russians. Absolutely everyone recognizes this – in the West, in the countries of the South and in the East. I hear this from all officials at the international level with whom I have communicated over the last month and a half.

— It turns out that the heads of international sports federations are afraid to take a step towards Russia?

– Yes, they are afraid to take a step forward.

For our part, I am sure that we will soon close the doping issue. We have been fighting and will continue to fight against this scourge since our youth. We have almost finished the legislative issues; there are one or two points left. I think that we will make progress on this issue in the near future.

— In your busy schedule, do you manage to follow the European Football Championship?

– Certainly. I believe in following sports and encouraging them. I would like to for ours, but it is not yet possible. But in terms of professional responsibilities, I keep an eye on everything.

— Who are you worried about during the tournament?

— I will be honest: I was very worried and happy for the Georgian team. They are our neighbors, we once lived in the same country – both in the Russian Empire and in the Soviet Union. Therefore, their success is very good, I can sincerely congratulate the team and its fans, the Georgians showed an excellent result. In general, you should support your friends and neighbors. Yes, sometimes we quarrel, but sport should unite.

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