⏳ Final hours! Save up to 55% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Russian Olympic chief calls on athletes to stay away from banned coaches: TASS

Published 06/13/2019, 11:40 AM
Updated 06/13/2019, 11:45 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Banned Russian athletics coach Valery Volkov runs a training session at a university track in Moscow

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Olympic chief on Thursday urged athletes to steer clear of coaches banned for doping after Reuters reported that two athletics coaches and one doctor serving doping suspensions were still working with athletes.

"We need changes in the minds of athletes, coaches and all those involved in athletics training," Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov said in comments carried by TASS news agency.

"In order to avoid the problems with coaches that were raised in Western media, athletes themselves need to run from such coaches."

Reuters reported last week that Russian athletics coaches Vladimir Mokhnev and Valery Volkov, both serving doping bans, are still working with athletes.

Doctor Sergei Portugalov, formerly the athletics federation's chief medical officer, has been giving medical advice on nutrition and training in lectures at a Moscow gym despite serving a doping ban, Reuters also found.

Athletes must not receive training, strategy, nutritional or medical advice from banned coaches or medical staff and can face sanctions if they do, according to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

Pozdnyakov added that the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA should be "engaged in identifying such cases, and not only test athletes", TASS reported.

RUSADA, the Russian sports ministry and global athletics body IAAF have said Reuters' findings would be investigated.

Russia's athletics federation has been suspended since a 2015 report commissioned by WADA found evidence of mass doping in the sport.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Banned Russian athletics coach Valery Volkov runs a training session at a university track in Moscow

Despite the ban, some Russians -- including 2015 world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov -- have been cleared by the IAAF to compete internationally after demonstrating that they are training in a doping-free environment.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.