FISA, the International Rowing Federation, today released its final decision in response to the Russian Rowing Federation's new elections held last week-end.
The re-election had been requested by FISA following nine anti-doping code violations in a twelve- month period between July 2006 and July 2007. FISA had indicated in February this year that the Russian Rowing Federation risked a total ban from the sport unless they conducted a full re-election to replace the entire governing board as well as implicated people on the coaching and medical staff of their organisation by 31 March 2008. In today's letter, FISA congratulated the new President Leonid Drachevsky and informed him of FISA's satisfaction with the outcome of the election which was held in Moscow on Saturday, 29 March.
They confirmed to Drachevsky that, due to the prompt intervention of the National Olympic Committee and the Sports Ministry, no additional penalties would be imposed against the Russian Rowing Federation and that the ban on all Russian Rowing Federation officials from participating in FISA events would not apply to the newly elected officials and the newly appointed coaches and medical personnel, effective immediately. The two-year bans from national and international participation of the nine rowers found to have violated the code remain unchanged. FISA reconfirmed the financial penalties which had been imposed on the Russian Rowing Federation which amount to CHF 53'338.- for reimbursement of costs incurred related to the anti-doping actions taken by FISA against the nine Russian athletes and the CHF 75'000.- fine but extended the payment deadlines slightly.
"We are satisfied that those responsible or in a position of responsibility have been punished" said the letter, co-signed by FISA President Denis Oswald and FISA Executive Director Matt Smith.
Denis Oswald commented this morning: "This concludes a very complicated series of cases for our Federation. We hope that the consequence of this procedure will be a better approach to the coach-athlete relationship in Russia and, above all, a better understanding of the anti-doping rules and health issues for athletes in the country." He added: "As we have said before, we will not tolerate actions that put athletes' health at risk because we are very sure that athletes had little to say in the matter."
Currently, Russia has one boat, the men's quadruple sculls, qualified to take part in the Beijing Olympic Games. Other boats will have a last chance to qualify at the final qualification regatta in Poznan, Poland this coming June. The team will be allowed to travel to these events accompanied by the new officials, coaches and support team within the scope of this decision.
Click here and scroll down to section 6 "Decisions" section to view the individual decisions related to the nine athletes and the federation, and a copy of today's letter to the new Russian Rowing Federation.
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