19 March 2024, Tuesday, 12:18
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Parfianovich: Belarusians Using Doping Remain A Disgrace Which Is Hard To Bear

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The former canoe rower who won three Olympic medals has commented upon the doping-scandal involving Belarusian rowers.

Earlier, the Belarusian rowing team was disqualified for using doping.

Famous Belarusian athlete Uladzimir Parfianovich has commented upon the situation for BelSAT TV-channel: “In this world, no one fears competition. Sport is competition by nature. Without competition, there will be no sport, no life.

I believe that various political motives which get embedded in the situation are groundless. No one gets rejected for nothing.

In the end of the day, I would like to read the report of the French police and the French Anti-Doping Committee. When they openly publish it, we will have a sincere open opinion.

There exists the system, inside which, if three representatives of a federation get caught using doping within a year – it doesn’t matter if they were youngsters, adults or kids – the federation gets rejected. We had 5 cases of the kind.

Saying that someone didn’t understand something – this is for dummies, for workers from some plant, who are not interested in sports… The situation remains very complicated.

For me, as a Belarusian athlete and a person, who headed the Belarusian Rowing and Canoeing Federation for many years – this is the pain which will stay in my heart for a long time to come.

This is a disgrace which is hard to bear. If one comes to meet with friends at an international tournament, and tells where he comes from, the people will answer “Hah, Belarus.” We have gained bad fame here.

The punishment for such things should be very strict. When I headed the Federation, I said “I will kill the one who takes doping with my own hands”. Back in 1990s, I suggested introduction of criminal responsibility for using doping. No one wanted to do it then, and they are still afraid of taking such measure. Why? This is it.”

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