Aleksander Mikhailov: 'FSB just doesn’t have experts who could replace urine samples’

'Judging from what I've heard, I can sum up it is a pure political sting'

I watched a press conference given by a person from an independent anti-doping agency. There were too many words hiding stupidity, narrow-mind, incompetence and dependence on Hollywood like 'the fact that samples were opened was not ascertained but our experts told how it could be'! Were they opened or not? I can make up hundreds of variants, hundreds of scenarios!

It was interesting for me because from 1974 to 1989 I dealt with security provision in sports events that took place in Moscow. We knew everything in detail, even the number of cuts of the lift line per 1 metre in the lighting at the Lenin Stadium. Everything! Judging from what I've heard, I can sum up it is a pure political sting. The WADA speaker has nothing to do with sport! Nothing! Why were not people in the hall who could wipe the floor with him? His every phrase was a banana skin! How can such people report anything? How can we keep silence?

'Neither KGB nor FSB knows these technologies, codes and other conditionality that only experts understand. They don't need it! Sniff of urine is not their task.' Photo: sputnik.by

What Pokemons and CIA have in common

It is like Pokemons today, where special services were attracted too: FSB and KGB are closed departments that can be accused of everything.

To start with, a FSB worker had access to enter the laboratory. So what? I was in the 1980 Olimpyad Support Staff. I had a 'going over all terrain'. I was able to be everywhere wearing a coat, galoshs and a suitcase! And what? It's necessary to know the information security in detail, including in doping area, to be able to do something. Neither KGB nor FSB knows these technologies, codes and other conditionality that only experts understand. They don't need it! Sniff of urine is not their task, but they must be everywhere, in all rooms, including the closed ones. It is a simple and clear axiom.

Seven reasons for why they have nothing to do with it

1. Today's FSB won't be outside of its area of competence, even if we are speaking about a formal prestige in sport. It is a fact.
2. It doesn't have experts who could do it.
3. As President is the only boss for FSB, no Mutko could mention such a replace. On the contrary, he would not be the Minister if he talked about this topic.
4. Putin appreciates FSB too much to charge it with dealing with urine.
5. In reality, the risk of information leakage is extremely high, for FSB it is more important than champion medals.
6. In other words, given the opportunity to replace samples, should they deal with our athletes' samples? Is not it better to replace the analyses of the others, create a situation in order to destroy a foreign champion and advance ours? Let them explain.
   
   According to the logic, it would be easier to replace winners' dope tests and make our athletes champions. Just imagine, all champions failed dope tests, including the Germans, Americans, while the Russians did not. If it were as it has been said, entire national federations of key countries would sink. A syringe with a thin needle and a bit of a chemical substance are needed. And no problems…
7. They system of dope tests is not so simple. This is why stings can be conducted by 'amateurs', not by special services.
   

'Compromising the Olympiad in Sochi as an occurrence is a shock to most Russians who were sceptical about the Games because of their high price. Many people still discuss 'Why did we need it?' for a reason.' Photo: yuga.ru

Then the 2018 WC will be cancelled

I think it's just a political campaign. There are two aspects – sanctions and questions connected with the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The very result of the Sochi Olympiad solved several problems at once. Compromising the Olympiad in Sochi as an occurrence is a shock to most Russians who were sceptical about the Games because of their high price. Many people still discuss 'Why did we need it?' for a reason.

And athletes' disqualification, who were the winners in Sochi, obviously demonstrates that one's own hand is a power, that Russia that is given preferences to hold competitions does its best for the victory of its athletes.

Today we should realise the process will continue… I'm pretty sure the Olympic Committee will make a corresponding decision. Yes, there may be a disqualification, they can use it. As soon as the disqualification takes place, the reasonability to hold the 2018 WC in Russia will be under question. Money was spent, and it was spent not only on the WC… The money will be used as well as in Sochi… All today's constructions won't disappear.

'In the West, all people use substances but under doctors' strict control who must acquaint with new drugs on time. There is a question for our specialist doctors.' Photo: Maksim Platonov

Doctors' work is questioned

It should be said that even our sports functionaries have told much that elite sport has become impossible without using certain substances in recent time. One thing is that substances compensate loads of an organism during trainings and competitions. Another thing is that substances are aimed to increase possibilities and resources of an organism. Sport is sport, admit it. Many drugs are logical: they reduce the risk of an athlete's death when there are great results. A delicate balance appears here: in the West, all people use substances but under doctors' strict control who must acquaint with new drugs on time. There is a question for our specialist doctors. An athlete is not supposed to look through magazines and understand formulas…

In brief, I suppose there is a verdict. Much turns on the position of our National Olympic Committee and Sports Committee. On Monday, I did not see any serious opponents among the Russian representatives who would ask questions and require details. I don't understand this position.

'Its reputation among foreign and Russian sports representatives has been tarnished regardless of what it does. It is to resign. It is a human factor. Today the question is clear – Mutko is to resign…' Photo: Roman Khasaev

To dismiss Mutko

The law of any information war is that reaction must be superfast and rapid. If a person who says such things influences, he should know the uttered words require a responsibility. We got stuck in a long-standing debate that just drags the scandal on, beats about the bush and involves more and more people.

Anyway the administration of the Russian Sports Committee and the Ministry of Sport are to resign today not because it is good or bad – it became a target of a lot of criticism. Its reputation among foreign and Russian sports representatives has been tarnished regardless of what it does. It is to resign. It is a human factor. Today the question is clear – Mutko is to resign…