Informant of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Grigory Rodchenkov could not explain to the judges of the Sports Arbitration Court (CAS) how the notorious state scheme of doping in Russia, which he allegedly exposed. This was told by lawyer Artem Patsev, who defends the interests of Russian athletes in CAS. "The hearings were difficult and emotional. Rodchenkov, as expected, was confused in his testimony and in his own numerous versions of the "state scheme". I hope the referees take this into consideration, "- wrote a lawyer in Facebook. He noted that the judges at least listen to the statements of the parties very carefully, in contrast to the commission of Denis Oswald, whose members "openly dozed and even snored". It is interesting that Rodchenkov testified in a very strange situation - on video communication, and his head was covered with a screen, only hands were visible. Athletes were not allowed to ask him questions. All in all, CAS is currently considering suits of 39 Russian athletes accused by the IOC of taking doping during the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014, despite negative tests. Hearings will last until January 28.

Athletes hope they can prove the groundlessness of these charges and still have time to get to Games-2018. Arbitration judges must announce their decision before February 2. Three more lawsuits will be considered later, because the biathletes who submitted them, Jana Romanova, Olga Zaitseva and Olga Viluhina, have already completed their sports career.

Earlier, "Morning" wrote that the list of Russian athletes admitted by the IOC to participate in the Olympics-2018 under a neutral flag, did not include the leading athletes of the Russian team.