“Let them go to the bathhouse!”: WADA head Banka threatens everyone who comes to the Friendship Games: EADaily

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Banka, announced sanctions against foreign athletes who will take part in the Friendship Games scheduled for September 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg.

“The so-called Friendship Games have been announced in Russia next year. We would like to express our concerns in connection with their conduct; we have serious doubts from an anti-doping perspective. This possible event will be hosted in a country that is not compliant and we have no information about the anti-doping program at this event. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is still stripped of compliance status, so in our view, these competitions jeopardize the health of the athletes and the integrity of the competition. The possible participation in these competitions of those who are signatories of the WADA code may have certain consequences, because, as I have already said, the Friendship Games do not have an anti-doping policy and a proper program. So those who choose to participate may face consequences», – threatened Bathhouse at a press conference.

In turn, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Sports published the opinion of the head of the department Oleg Matytsina, reacted to the recommendations of the IOC and WADA regarding the World Friendship Games in Russia:

“Sport is a platform for open dialogue, so it’s strange to hear calls from the IOC and WADA to limit Russian initiatives. Russia has always adhered to the true principles of sport, and we have proven this by organizing large-scale international competitions, which were recognized, including by the IOC, as the best in history.

Every country has the right to develop sports. The competitions initiated by the Russian Federation – the BRICS Games, the Future Games, the World Friendship Games – do not violate the international calendar; they are aimed at creating conditions for fair competition, which is a fundamental principle for the development of sports. We look forward to welcoming athletes from all over the world to all our tournaments.”

Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharovaof course, reacted to the words of the Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency Olivier Niggli that Russia does not have the right to host the Friendship Games due to the lack of compliance status with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency:

“I recommend Olivier Niggli to take up the issue compliance with doping standards of transgender people pumped with hormones included in international competitions through the IOC. And Russia will hold the Friendship Games at a high level in accordance with existing international standards.”