Olympics: Rodchenkow testifies at Russian trials

Whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov will testify in the negotiations of the 42 Russian sportsmen and women taking action against their lifelong Olympic suspensions before the International Sports Court CAS.

Rodtschenkov’s lawyer Jim Walden confirmed to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Thursday edition) on request by e-mail:”Yes, he will testify, but from a distance.”

The former head of the Moscow doping laboratory, whose statements contributed significantly to the detection of Russia’s government-controlled doping system, is presumably connected via video. The leniency witness Rodchenkow lives in the FBI’s witness protection program, he fears for his life because of his momentous revelations.

Negotiations on the objections of the 42 athletes before the CAS in Lausanne will begin on 21 January. January. Judgments shall be delivered by 31 December. January. This was announced by CAS. On the 9th. In February the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang will begin.

The Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had excluded 43 Russian athletes from the Olympic Games for life after the investigation into the extensive manipulations during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Among them were the Sochi Olympic champions Alexander Subkow (Bob), Alexander Tretyakov (Skeleton) and Alexander Legkov (Cross-Country Skiing). 42 of those affected lodged objections before the CAS.

The Russian athletes, who have been proven not to be part of the fraud system, are allowed to compete in Pyeongchang, but not under the Russian flag and without anthem. The athletes compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia”.

The blocked Russian skeleton and bobsleigh riders are still allowed to compete in the World Cup despite their Olympic suspension. The Anti-Doping Commission of the World Federation IBSF had spoken out against a temporary suspension because of possible legal problems.

Rodtschenkov’s testimony before the Oswald Commission is a major problem. Rodchenkov had not personally appeared before the commission, but had only testified in writing.

According to the IBSF Panel, this approach violates the Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the rules of the IBSF. In addition, it is highly likely that this would not be compatible with international law, Swiss procedural law and the European Convention on Human Rights.