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HAFJELL (Dagbladet): Russia’s ski president and former cross-country world champion Jelena Välbe has repeatedly made strong accusations against the use of asthma medications in Norwegian cross-country skiing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been previously quoted as saying he believes athletes using drugs for medical reasons should participate in the Paralympic Games.
Following, among other things, these statements by Putin and Välbe, the attitude has spread in Russia. Therefore, many Russians today think that the combination of Norwegian cross-country skiing and the use of asthma medications is suspicious and concerning.
Vitaly Smirnov has already tired of the negative Russian attitude and the explanation for the success of Norway. Smirnov is a former Russian Sports Minister and former Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“Russian sports leaders should use the experience and expertise of their Norwegian colleagues to develop Russian cross-country skiing and biathlon, rather than explain Norway’s success with the use of asthma drugs,” Smirnov told the agency. Russian news agency TASS.
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– Norwegian skiers won almost all the golds at the World Ski Championships in Seefeld. They clearly also won more at the biathlon world championships in Anterselva. Norway won the most gold of all nations at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
– I must talk about this
Smirnov continues:
– In Russia, Norwegians are often accused of hiring asthma doctors who, thanks to therapeutic exceptions, can use drugs containing prohibited substances. Perhaps it is better to take a more serious look at why a country with a population equivalent to one third of Moscow’s population is the strongest ski nation? Smirnov asks.
– We need to talk about this. But we must also understand the following: even if we managed to topple Norway from the throne, who would we compete with then? This will end the sport. We fight against an opponent that our athletes need.
– Don’t think Therese has better asthma medicine than me
To Dagbladet, Olympic champion Ragnhild Haga is told that he is happy with the deal Smirnov is making with his compatriots.
-It is good that you make that arrangement if this way of thinking is widespread. It is rarely a good sign with such excuses. So one should admit that someone trains better or does other things better. I don’t go around thinking that Therese has better asthma medicine than I do and that’s why she walks faster than I do. It’s because she’s doing something more good than me. This is where the focus should be, Haga tells Dagbladet.
– Cross-country skiing is hard on the lungs. To be normal, it is worth taking asthma medicine if you have congestion and a cough. I don’t know many ordinary people who walk around coughing after a little ski trip. I think it helps us stay healthy and it doesn’t improve our performance, but it keeps us level so we can go skiing enough, Haga thinks.
– Looking towards Norway
Coach of the women’s national team and Olympic sprint champion Ola Vigen Hattestad thinks that Russian athletes do not think the same as the message that Välbe has defended.
– It’s good that someone settle for that. Välbe has released some comments. But I experience that Norway is admired by most other nations, including Russians, says Hattestad and elaborates:
– For example, Nikita Kriukov was with us at a meeting in Sognefjellet. I think practitioners know what’s behind it. The rest of the population may think a little differently, without my knowing it.
Autumn: – Bad excuse
Olympic champion and five-time world champion Maiken Caspersen Falla also appreciates Sminov’s agreement.
– Blaming asthma medications as the reason for Norway’s success sounds like a bad excuse. The asthma drugs used by sick doctors in Norway are drugs that are legal for everyone, if the tests show you are bad enough, Failure tells Dagbladet.
– If the Russians want to use those drugs, they are open to everyone. Also not all Norwegian doctors use these drugs. That excuse is a shame. Learning from what Norway does sounds more sensible. And we can probably learn some of the Russians too.
