Comment by the Information and Press Department regarding the November 16 statement by WADA President Craig Reedie

We are surprised and concerned over a statement made by President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Craig Reedie in an interview with R-Sport, a division of RIA Novosti , to the effect that “sports without politics, it’s sort of an impossible dream.”

As is known, the autonomy of sports has been sealed in the Olympic Charter. One of the fundamental principles is as follows: “The  enjoyment  of  the  rights  and  freedoms  set  forth  in  this  Olympic  Charter  shall  be  secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion.”

The role of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) set out in the Charter is, among other things, “to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes.”

We also point to the UN General Assembly resolution adopted at the 71st session and titled “Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace” (A/RES/71/160), which clearly stipulates “the independence and autonomy of sport.” To believe the WADA President, the Olympic Charter and the above UN General Assembly resolution are an impossible dream.

It is regrettable that a growing number of attempts have been made recently to use major international competitions and the subject of sports in general to put pressure on others in order to attain one’s immediate interests. We are convinced that sports is an autonomous part of people’s lives, which must be separated from any political agenda. The mission of sports is not to disrupt ties between nations but to bring them together based on respect for the traditions and culture of all countries.