The Russian Ministry of Sports is working to create a culture of zero tolerance for doping in all regions of the country. This was announced on Sunday, September 20, by the head of the department, Oleg Matytsin.
According to him, we are talking about athletes of the very young age. “We are now analyzing the activities of the Center for Sports Training of National Teams of Russia and all athletes – members of the national teams,” the TASS minister is quoted as saying.
According to Matytsin, a more responsible approach to interaction with national teams, coaches, federations and health workers is needed.
Formation of zero tolerance for doping is not a matter of one day, an educational system is needed, he stressed.
Commenting on the disqualification of the Russian figure skater Maria Sotskova for violating anti-doping rules, he called it the reason for the insufficient formation of a sense of responsibility among athletes.
“The question here is probably not in personalities, but in the formation of the culture of our athletes and coaches and a sense of responsibility,” he said. Matytsin expressed the hope that this case will become an isolated one.
On September 18, former figure skater Sotskova, who retired in 2020, was disqualified for 10 years by the decision of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) for forging a medical certificate.
Sotskova was the silver medalist of the Grand Prix finals of the 2017/18 season. She also has silver and bronze medals at the Russian championships.