The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) does not have any pressure from outside. All decisions regarding the removal of athletes caught in the use of prohibited preparations are taken on objective grounds. The corresponding statement today, December 15, was made public by representatives of the international organization. "Decisions are taken by the founders' council, which is 50% composed of representatives of sports and 50% - from state representatives, and holds public meetings twice a year. WADA objectively takes decisions within its mission as the leader of the joint world movement for sport without doping, "- said in a statement that leads" R-Sport ". Thus, the organization responded to yesterday's words of Russian President Vladimir Putin, told them during the "big press conference". The head of state said that the doping scandal surrounding Russian athletes is developing on the eve of elections in our country, and expressed the opinion that the scandal may have a political background. According to Putin, he respects international sports and anti-doping organizations and understands that they are under pressure. At the same time, the president promised that Russia will help its athletes defend their rights in international courts. The head of state also drew attention to the fact that doping on a legal basis is accepted by athletes from other countries, and no one criticizes them for it. "There are other systemic things - permission to take prohibited substances for medical reasons. Maybe then these people are allowed to speak on an out-of-competition basis? I do not want to offend anyone - everyone works, they try, but the competition must be respected, "Putin said.. The president also paid attention to the role played by the informant WADA and ex-head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov in the Olympic scandal. He, according to Putin, works under the control of the US special services, "and this is not a plus for Russia," since "it is not known what preparations are given to him to give the necessary testimony". At the same time, the president did not give an answer to the question whether any of the officials would bear responsibility for the fact that such an inadequate person worked for such a long time at such a responsible post that he inflicted huge damage to Russian sport and the image of our country in the international arena.

In early December, the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended from performances at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018. national team of our country. At the same time, he allowed athletes from the Russian Federation to perform at the Olympic Games under a neutral flag and without a hymn. The reason for the decision were the conclusions of a number of commissions and reports on the state system of doping support established in Russia.