The US is preparing a series of high-profile “exposés” about alleged doping abuses in Russian sport, Moscow’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has claimed. The move is part of a “long and unsuccessful” campaign aimed at “isolating” Russia in international sports, the spy agency said.
Russia has been banned from the ongoing Paris Olympics due to the Ukraine conflict. Just 15 Russian athletes are taking part in the Games, compared to more than 300 at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Russians have been allowed to participate in Paris under a neutral flag and as individual competitors.
The US is working to “fabricate” evidence of doping use and deal “the most powerful blow” to the disciplines that Russian athletes have dominated for decades, such as rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and figure skating, the SVR alleged on Monday.
The “exposés” will “dish monstrous dirt” and “spread elaborate lies” on renowned Russian sports schools and outstanding coaches and athletes, a statement added.
According to the spy agency, the US is being aided by Grigory Rodchenkov, the disgraced former head of a Moscow anti-doping laboratory who fled Russia for the US in 2015, and his associate Timofey Sobolevsky, the former head of the Doping Control Department. The pair are said to have maintained ties with coaches and doctors involved in the training of Russian athletes. The prospective “informants” have allegedly been promised “generous compensation” and potential employment in a Western country.
The SVR also pointed at last month’s dismissal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) of Russia’s appeal against the reallocation of its figure skating gold medal won at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Russia team member Kamila Valieva was accused of doping and had her results disqualified. CAS ruled that Russia’s gold medal should be awarded to the second-placed US, while third-placed Japan have been promoted to silver. The Russian team has been downgraded to bronze.
The SVR described as “shameful” the special awards ceremony for figure skaters that will be held in Paris on Wednesday, lamenting “the arrogance,” “pettiness” and “short-sightedness” of Western countries. Russian athletes and coaches, as well as they their fans worldwide, want to see sport outside politics, it concluded.