Marat Bariev: ‘An athlete didn't decide that, ‘I will go and gorge meldonium… and be a champion’

15-year imprisonment for doping

Mr. Bariev, against a background of the doping scandal you stated in your column in Realnoe Vremya that you wanted to criminalize coaches, doctors and other specialists who incite athletes to use doping. Has this idea been prepared as a bill?

Yes, we brought in this bill last week. Three deputies Ildar Gilmutdinov (he is also from Tatarstan), Dmitry Svischev (chairman of our Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs but from LDPR) and I were the authors. The article is called Incitement of Athletes to Use Substances and Methods Banned in Sports. It means that the bill is not aimed at punishment or toughening a punishment of an athlete, as many people would suppose and brought in a corresponding bill. Those who incite an athlete to use prohibited methods, drugs or some technologies has sole responsibility and punishment for it. Responsibility embraces doctors, coaches and sports functionaries.

How will they be punished?

It depends on the gravity of the offence. A punishment for incitement of an athlete to use these prohibited methods and drugs is a fine equal to 500,000 rubles with the deprivation of the right to occupy certain posts for a period of three years. If it was committed by a group of people in collusion with somebody (for instance, coach and doctor of a team) or it was committed against a minor athlete (under the age of 18), the punishment is a fine equal to 1m rubles or one year of imprisonment. And if drugs were used without athlete's consent, that is to say, he or she was not told what was it, they just gave it to the athlete or added, the imprisonment lasts for 3-5 years. But, if this activity resulted in imprisonment or other severe consequences, God forbid, it brings to a 15-year imprisonment and prohibition to occupy certain posts for a period of 20 years.

Has this idea met support of the government or any sports functionaries?

We just have brought it in. According to the regulation, all approvements will start now. But we were orally understood by workers of the Ministry of Sport at the stage of the introduction. There are no official documents, but we will stay the course.

What Mr. Mutko did tell about your initiative?

I've not talked to Mutko yet, I did not have the time. We met oral but unofficial support, understanding and approval of the administration of the Ministry. They were aware that we were introducing this bill, and they were not against it.

'It was necessary to work when it was banned'

What is meldonium? Is it a doping or is it just a drug necessary for an athlete?

Let's use the existing norms. If it was included in the list of banned substances by the Anti-Doping Agency, it means nowadays it is supposed to be a doping. WADA confirmed that it is a doping. If ascorbic acid is included in the Prohibited List, it is also a doping.

'WADA confirmed that it is a doping. If ascorbic acid is included in the Prohibited List, it is also a doping.' Photo: Maksim Platonov

Don't you think that the including of meldonium and other drugs used in Russia in the blacklist is a kind of conspiracy of the West against our country, as some figures in sport told?

Such versions exist, and people are speaking about it. This opinion is very popular in some circles. But I don't think so. By the way, the President of the country also said: 'Give it up'. Even so, the drug is prohibited anyway – it cannot be used regardless of being against Russia or not against Russia. It was necessary to work without letting it happen when it was banned.

Yesterday you did not know anything and woke up today and knew that meldoinum was banned –it was not so. There were many scientific conferences. Then, in 2014, WADA raised a question and sent all countries a letter offering to express their opinion about meldonium. I don't know whether Russian representatives wrote. In 2015, it was monitored during 6 months. All people know that monitoring means an increased attention. They should have given up using immediately in spring. In September, the list appeared on the site, everyone was informed. It cannot be said that this information appeared within a night, and our athletes began to be persecuted. No, far from it.

Missed medals

Is ше a fault of our sports functionaries and the Olympic Committee that tens of our famous athletes had this drug in blood?

The Olympic Committee doesn't deal with detecting doping in organism. It is a business of the Anti-Doping Centre, Russian Anti-Doping Agency and WADA. The Olympic Committee doesn't have doctors. All doctors work with their teams and come from the Federal Biomedical Agency, which provides doctors and is responsible for them. Doctors work with their coaches appointed by the Ministry of Sport. This is why there is no function of the Olympic Committee, though the Committee should not stay apart when there is such a trouble. These organizations and federation of these sports should elaborate some additional measures to exclude this situation in the future.

It means that the programmes we have today fail and don't work at some stage – in the communication of information or selection of personnel. Incompetent workers, negligent and sloppy people are working somewhere. It is to be found out.

We already know by name over 20 great athletes but have no guilty specialist in tennis, athletics, speed skating, figure skiing, rugby, volleyball, cycling, wrestling and others. We were not told that a coach or this doctor was guilty. We know no name. It is an irresponsibility! Who allowed it? An athlete did not decide on his or her own 'I will go and gorge meldonium. I will stock up it in a pharmacy on the cheap, eat my fill and be a champion'. Athlete is not a person who decides.

What Russian athletes might be expelled from the nearest Olympic Games? What medals can Russia forget about?

If any exclusive measures are not taken concerning meldonium, that is to say, nothing will change, if the drug is present in athletes' B sample or they refuse a dope test, these athletes won't be allowed. Speaking about medals in Rio, I thought that Masha Sharapova should have a gold medal. Swimmer Yulia Yefimova participates in three distances. We counted on a minimum of two medals, including a gold in 100 metres because she is a world champion who demonstrated the best result in the world this year. Wrestlers have a long bench but there are the best athletes in their weight division. The most important thing is the moral atmosphere. So, a volley of shots knocked the athletes off. It affects many people.

'Swimmer Yulia Yefimova participates in three distances. We counted on a minimum of two medals, including a gold in 100 metres.' Photo: championat.com

Safety first of all

Terrorist attacks took place in the city of Brussels recently. Have safety measures regarding international mass events, especially sports ones, been toughened? The Olympic Games in Brazil and EURO in France are ahead.

I don't know whether they will be toughened but I would do it. Safety of fans and participants is important first of all. If something happens, God forbid, such a chaos may arise! Undoubtedly, it is troublesome, expensive, inconvenient, especially for spectators. When we started to use inspections, scanners and take off outerwear and shoes at the airports, many people grumbled. Now everyone got used to it and understands that it is necessary. No one is grumbling, all people are satisfied because it is in their interests.

Nevertheless, attacks take place, including at the airports.

Thank God, in Russia, it has not happened yet. It was in Egypt, so that they are toughening their safety measures.

Have anything similar been planned on the threshold of football events?

In Russia, during the preparation for FIFA WC, we, as a host country, offered FIFA a complex of security measures. FIFA agrees with some points and disagrees with the others. But our explanations, our party gradually takes the lead. Unfortunately, all these tragic events in Brussels suggest once again that Russia is offering correct steps for the identification of all guests and fans from other cities.

So, how was it in Sochi? Everyone had a 'guest card'. Everybody who bought a ticket was identified. There were good results. There were no problems here in Sochi.

All participants will be identified here too. A spectator won't be able to enter the stadium without his or her individual registration card, a so-called Fan-ID. It won't be possible to get inside without this card. This card contains all information. Moreover, it is made quickly and does not take much time. We experienced it all in Sochi.

There will be other safety measures. There will be CCTV monitoring around sports venues. Increased security control in crowded places – airports, stations, people's place of domicile will be provided. There will be an increased number of representatives of police, including foreign police workers.

Will it be possible to enter the stadium with different bells and whistles and fan attributes?

Sports fan attributes can be brought, of course. Is it a football if all people are sitting putting their hand on knees in total silence?

'A spectator won't be able to enter the stadium without his or her individual registration card, a so-called Fan-ID.' Photo: kzn.ru

Will Kazan host Olympic Games?

Kazan will host the Confederations Cup and the World Cup soon. What international competitions can the capital of Tatarstan be a candidate for?

We will have the European Judo Championships, Sambo World Championships, FINA Diving World Series and FINA World Junior Synchronized Swimming Championships, there are many events. There are not any big events in Kazan after 2019-2020. Many people are speaking about the organization of Olympic Games, but I think that now it is unreal. Russia has good chances to host the Games. But Kazan might confidently bid for hosting the Youth Olympic Games, which take place every four years since 2010 and organized by the International Olympic Committee. The city really could host them. The latest Games were in China in 2014, the next competition will be in Argentina in 2018. The 2020 is still open, the decision has not been made yet, it will be made next year. I suppose Kazan could try. Young athletes from around the world, heads of all international sports federations, the administration of the IOC could come here. They would see our organization and infrastructure. Then it would be easier to speak about our desire to host Olympic Games. They would know what Kazan has and what city it is.