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ATHLETICS. Nikolai Beloborodov: in our Federation they want to lay down obstacles in the Lysenko’s affair, but we won’t allow it
The All-Russian Athletic Federation (ARAF) and the ARAF President, the member of the council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Valentin Balakhnichev personally, are doing nothing for quickly resolve the affair of the Russian hammer throwers Tatiana Lysenko and Ekaterina Khoroshikh, students of coach Nikolai Beloborodov. In July, 2007, based on the samples taken in May, 2007, the girls were tasted positive; but as yet no verdict has been rendered either at the ARAF level or the IAAF level about disqualification or dropping the charges. Nikolai Beloborodov shared his views on the events and proceedings surrounding the Lysenko’s and Khoroshikh’s affair with the Agency of Sport Information "All Sport".- Nikolai, how do you do? What’s the news?
- Honestly speaking, I’m quite troubled for the moment. It seems to me that they’re being a little evasive with us, to put it mildly. Your call is very timely. Literally yesterday I went to Balakhnichev. I went with the same questions you’re asking: what’s going on, what’s the news? We had a talk. But after I left, I thought about it and realized: how skillfully he deflected me! As if patting me on the head, he said: “everything is normal, we’re fighting, we’re trying...” But in reality, deep inside I feel it’s somehow not so. At the evening training, I described it to Tanya and today she decided to go to Balakhnichev herself. She also heard nothing concrete, so we set the condition: to get a decision in this matter by the end of January. If they disqualify for one year, as they promised us – we will specifically prepare for the Olympics. If it’s two - we will battle further. In that case of course, there are many nuances and incomprehensible elements.
- Which are they, for example?
- Why are Tanya and Katya considered guilty and cannot compete, in spite of the absence of the official decision? But Valery Kulichenko, who gave the forbidden preparations to them, continues to work both for Rossport and the federation?! For me this is completely incomprehensible!
- Nikolai Nikolayevich, aren’t you confused? Kulichenko was dismissed from his post as the head coach, and in the middle of December he complained that he sits without work, and lives the life of a “simple Soviet pensioner”.
- Nevertheless, he continues to occupy the official post and receive money from the Rossport. As far as I know, he remains the state athletics coach responsible for developing the sport in this country! And more over he also still works in the federation! You won’t believe it, but he oversees the youth sport schools! In principle, I understand Kulichenko. He became a hostage to the present situation in the Russian sport: medals are required, decorations have been promised... And when mistakes happen, everyone runs for the bushes: here we’re not arguing... But his complaint to you – this of course, is all nonsense. He works and receives money... Although, of course, after having been dismissed from the post of head coach he’s not able to be directly involved in the training camps. But he somehow manages to hang around nonetheless... But for us – the girls and me – the Rossport cast us aside, removed us from the staff, and stopped paying our wages. Officially we’ve been rejected. We’ve gotten no such understanding.
- Well what about the decision in the Lysenko-Khoroshikh’s affair proper? When will the IAAF deliver the verdict: two years of disqualification, one year, or perhaps complete amnesty? How do you view your present position and prospects?
- All interaction with the IAAF goes through the ARAF. And here the ARAF, it seems me, misinforms us a bit about the real state of affairs. As I understood it, the IAAF was ready to show sympathy to us, to disqualify the girls only for one year. But for this it’s necessary to impose stricter sanctions on the former head coach. The IAAF is not satisfied that Kulichenko simply be dismissed. In essence, everything hinges on this matter. The IAAF doesn’t see a real fight against doping in the decisions handed down by Balakhnichev. I think they want a criminal case – like in the USA. But if a criminal prosecution is launched against Kulichenko, he will not want to face it alone, and will drag everyone else into it. On the whole, it’s a very doubtful situation. Certainly we’re not ready, speaking in general terms, to sell out all of Russia. But concerning our concrete matter, we are ready to divulge all information, to describe everything that we know. But no one even asks us. I think Balakhnichev simply doesn’t want to bear the excess load. Otherwise how do you explain the disappearance of the supplements we handed over?
- What supplements? To whom did you hand them over?
- We handed over the supplements which Kulichenko sold to us, and which was then detected in the girls’ tests, to the Russian anti-doping laboratory. This was for the investigation being carried out by the IAAF. Way back in November. But suddenly I learn that the jar of supplements... disappeared! It was lost! I said: come on, look for it. Indeed I know to whom, when, and how we gave it. But just today Tanya learned that the supplements, it turns out, have disappeared. Two months ago. She asked: why did you keep silent?! Why did you say nothing?! The supplements were lost in November, now it’s already January, but they reported nothing about this to us. In short, some games are going on. But in principle, nothing good will come out of this. I feel everyone in the federation wants to lay down obstacles, but we won’t allow it.
- But why? Isn’t it worthwhile to defend the athlete who would assuredly win a medal at the Olympic Games, and most likely gold?
- Well, certainly you understand that a pimple on your behind is always more disturbing than something global, but these are strange problems.
- And do the girls continue to train now? Do you prepare to compete in principle?
- Yes, we’re training. Essentially at home, in the Moscow region, and sometimes we go to Adler. We cover it with our own money, plus support from the regional Governor Boris Gromov. Although, I probably shouldn’t advertise this - on account of the fact that the Rossport has rejected us. Tanya is greatly upset, for her the entire proceeding is a shock. She has even developed an allergy due to the agitation; it broke out all over her entire body. I proposed: maybe let’s ask for some money so that, generally speaking, we can get by? But she answered: “I don’t need money! I need the Olympic Games!” Although I don’t know how we’ll live if we’re given two years.
