The biological A tests of the world champions of rhythmic
gymnastics Alina Kabayeva and Irina Chaschina, undertaken on August 29 of this
year on the games of at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, detected the diuretic
furosemide. As it became known recently, the retesting of the samples of the sportswomen
again confirmed the presence of the banned substance. They are now threatened
with a two-year suspension.
The gymnasts do not deny that they have taken furosemide, but they insist that
it has happened purely by chance. It was contained in false food additive of “Giper”
that was purchased at the drugstore, which, fortunately, was preserved by the
Russian rhythmic federation at the moment the scandal broke, and it was sent for
analysis, which revealed forgery. However, according to the existing rules, the
results of doping- control can be upheld only after the completion of two biological
tests. This is where the leakage of information occurred; correspondents of the
French newspaper L’Equipe dug up unreleased facts. At a press conference
on November 15 in Moscow the national head coach and member of the Technical Committee
of the FIG Irina Viner emphasized that the secret information was given out to
newsmen, in particular by Vice President and chairman of the FIG medical board,
Michel Leglize” from France.
Viner’s Comments:
"My words were distorted " Viner stated in an exclusive interview
with *Soviet Sport.* "In actuality, Mr. Leglize informed *L’Equipe*
about the fact that two sportswomen were exposed in the detection of the banned
substance, but the FIG later requested a test of sample B. However, they did not
give specific names! I know because my colleagues in the French federation of
rhythmic gymnastics indicated so." She spoke of this at the press conference.
"Unfortunately, one of the publications of the domestic press, in which
Leglize was compared with the French spy of the FIG, Ukrainian trainer and [note:
cannot translate chinovnitsa] Irina Derjugina translated it to the foreign language
and sent with the address. Leglize required from me apologies. Of course, he apologized
himself. But to it this it is small. And now already the discussion is that disciplinary
sanctions would be applied to me."
"I hope that all these dismantlings are not thrown on the girls. The date
when their fate is to be determined has not been established. Most likely this
will occur during January of 2002 at the session of the FIG Executive Committee
in Italy. The representatives of the medical commission requested two boxes of
the falsified food additives, which we sent to them via special mail. We also
communicated to the commission a number of documents that confirm that today in
Russia there are many false preparations, such as this food additive. What is
next? [note: I cannot clearly translate the following sentence. Can anyone help?]
If large policy here is mixed, then I will not cut, to us will be heavily repulsed
because of the absence in the country the anti-doping howl of the program, which
made it possible to monitor the situation, analogous to our, at the summit level."
"It goes without saying, our error consisted of the fact that we did not
return the ‘fateful’ batch of food additive to the anti-doping center
for study before our gymnasts began to use it. But nevertheless, I assume that
the FIG will judge on the basis of the obtained documentation and will pass a
valid decision, and for us it is not necessary to go further to cover the thresholds
of other instances in the search for truth. The FIG will not want to lose its
stars, those who have moved their sport a step forward with their unique and complex
programs. Moreover, everyone understands that rhythmic gymnastics and doping are
not compatible. But furosemide generally scatters attention, and girls on the
carpet can become walking corpses! They, by the way, after the Goodwill Games,
refused to use this food additive, since it made them feel bad. Therefore it remained
in the federation."
Michel Leglize's Commentary:
"For me the prevailing situation proved to be extremely unpleasant, since
in similar cases I have always stood for the protection of the gymnast, because
it does not please me when they are punished for something of which they are,
in reality, not guilty. As an example, I defended the interests of the Romanian
Andreea Raducan, whose biological test at the Olympiad in Sydney yielded positive
results for a banned substance. And, believe me, I intended to fight for Alina
Kabayeva and Irina Chaschina. But since your press asserts that there would be
rad,[???] if to the Russians were applied strict sanctions, that in reality lie,
I was forced to leave it to others to decide. The judges consists of three competent
FIG personnel. I hope that they will find Kabayeva and Chaschina innocent, because
these beautiful girls are athletes of the highest class."
"They are worthy, and so the sanctions would not be severe. But a very serious
error occurred. They gave false food additive to sportswomen. They are guilty
only in the fact that they opened their mouths. I believe that they did not use
the banned substance consciously, but I will add that this is my personal opinion
and not the official decision the FIG. Personally, I am convinced that neither
Kabayeva nor Chaschina thought about the use of doping."
From the editorial staff:
Leglize, the authoritative specialist, was undeservedly offended. For the entire
Russian press we apologize to Mr. Leglize in the hope that his opinion is not
unimportant to the judges, in whose hands lie the continuing careers of the famous
gymnasts, who serve as the adornment of any tournament. Kabayeva and Chaschina
draw full halls because they are true leaders who conquer in the honest fight.
It is clear that a misunderstanding occurred. In this sport similar incidents,
alas, are not a rarity. And those, on whom depends the fate of the "guilties",
as a rule, relate to them with understanding. This is desirable to believe, and
it will also occur this time.