Were Russian medalists at the Sochi Games doped? In Moscow, we don't ask the question. Thursday, February 27, the heroes of the Olympic fortnight received with great fanfare, from the hands of Dmitri Medvedev, the head of government, the reward of a Mercedes. It was even specified that the youngest medalists, who do not hold a driving license, could benefit from the services of a driver. When you love, you don't count, they say. And Russia passionately loves its skiers, cross-country skiers, skaters and other bobsledders, at least since last week.
Elsewhere, we have been wondering since the revelation by the German channel WDR of the use by Russian athletes of xenon gas to improve their performance on the snow and ice of Sochi. Inhaling xenon promotes the natural production of erythropoietin (EPO), which contributes to the development of red blood cells and therefore to improved performance. Certainly, this gas is not on the list of prohibited products. ButExternal intake of EPO is clearly considered doping.
Xenon is an asphyxiating gas that is used in inhalation, mask or spray. By creating a decrease in oxygen supply, it causes the body to respond by producing more endogenous EPO. Result: additional production of red blood cells.
Reaction of the Russian authorities: good faith. “Xenon is not an illegal gas,” argued Vladimir Uiba, head of the Russian Federal Biomedicine Agency (FMBA). “It is our policy not to use anything that is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is possible that our athletes resorted to xenon inhalers, but there would be nothing wrong with that. It’s not illegal, it’s not destructive, and it doesn’t cause side effects.”
According to certain media, such a practice is not new in Russian sport. Olympic athletes have even used it regularly since the Athens Games in 2004.
However, these revelations cast a shadow over Russia's collective performance at the Sochi Games, where its delegation finished at the top of the medal rankings, with 33 places on the podium, including 13 titles. WADA assured that it would “look into the matter. » Not sure she really digs into the subject.
