Zhiltsov on WADA sanctions: “I felt disgusting without a flag”

Russian racing driver Konstantin Zhiltsov told that, due to WADA sanctions, he felt disgusting when performing without the flag of his country. The day before, the agency admitted that according to the regulations, it cannot extend the bans, which expire on December 17.

According to the Honored Master of Sports, after this news, he experienced only positive emotions.

“For any professional athlete who competes for his country, the lack of a flag, emblem and everything else is very bad. Yes, an athlete achieves some results, but when you defend the honor of your country, flag and licenses, this is also very important from an emotional point of view. Because the coaches and the whole team work for the result. And when you are impersonal and it is not clear who you are and where you are from, it is very bad, “ – said the interlocutor.

He recalled that he personally experienced WADA sanctions on himself and stated that it was extremely unpleasant to perform without the Russian flag.

“This is a disgusting feeling. Moreover, the entire professional elite of athletes is quite critical of this. Many participants from other countries spoke to us, and everyone was outraged by this story. This is politics, and it is very bad that it affects the athletes themselves, who in most of the cases do not participate in this doping story at all. And even many of those who get there, end up there by accident. It is extremely unpleasant to experience sanctions that do not concern you, “ Zhiltsov said.

According to the race car driver, sport should be outside of politics, which, unfortunately, is very common in this area.

Earlier, the head of the WADA commission to investigate the doping scandal at the Sochi Olympics, Richard McLaren, called for the admission of athletes from Russia to international competitions and stressed the injustice of the situation.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that the recommendation of the IOC to prevent our athletes from being admitted hits the very idea of ​​​​the Olympic movement.