Ban on Russia is ‘pure politics’

Russia’s former biathlon champion and cross country skier Anfisa Reztsova, a five-time Olympic medallist in both sports, told on Thursday that the ban on Russia at the Pyeongchang Olympics is “pure politics.”

Anfisa, now 54, is one of many voices dismissing the International Olympic Committee’s ban on Russia from the upcoming Winter Games in South Korea over alleged state-sponsored doping in the 2014 Sochi Olympics as a political decision.

“This happened now because we won in Sochi, we were able to conduct the games at the highest level and became unbeatable,” Anfisa told at a cross countr y skiing stadium outside Moscow that bears her name.

Asked if she believed the doping allegations to be true, Anfisa said she did not “hear, see or know” of any evidence. “I want to say honestly: the world is not clean,” she adds.

She blames the situation on Russian officials, who she accuses of “doing practically nothing, probably counting their millions” and being too busy with football.

On Thursday, Russian Olympic officials announced that 169 Russian athletes have been approved by the IOC to take part in the Games under a neutral flag.

Russian sports minister Pavel Kolobkov said participating in the Olympics will be the athletes’ personal decision.

Anfisa urged them to travel to South Korea, despite not being able to compete under a Russian flag.

“We all know the Russian national anthem and we can sing, nobody will stop us: they can’t block the air around us and glue our mouths together,” she said.

Anfisa’s daughter, Daria Virolaynen, is also a professional biathlete and is one of the Russian athletes barred from the Games.

“Of course we talk about it, she is hurt and upset,” Anfisa said. She added that the family hopes Daria will participate in the next Olympics.

“If you have a dream that is taken away from you not by your own fault, why not (next time)?”