Stepanov reported doping: Russia is no longer a national sport

As the main witness in the ARD documentary “Secret State Doping – How Russia Creates Its Heroes”, the former employee of Russia’s anti-doping agency Rusada set out to overthrow his country as a sporting nation. Since then, he has been living with his family in a secret location in the United States.

“We no longer consider Russia to be our home, only the place where we were born,” Stepanov said in an interview with the German news agency DPA, and we are not planning to return at all. Now we have to see if we can stay here forever. “

“It’s a never-ending battle.”

In the report released at the end of 2014, Stepanov spoke about the state-controlled doping system. Shortly before, he left Russia and ended up in the United States via Germany. His revelations – and that of his wife who was allowed to use steroids as an athlete – contributed to sanctions against Russia. The country was recently banned from participating in major sporting events for two years by the CAS Sports Court, which has cut the penalty previously issued by the global anti-doping agency WADA in half. He is convinced that “the Russian government continues to deceive and deceive the Olympic movement.”

He does not regret his actions. The truth has emerged and the relevant organizations have been compelled to take action. This makes me positive. I think the anti-doping movement is getting stronger. When we started this, my impression was that there was definitely not a fight against doping in Russia. That everything and everyone is corrupt and that the health of the athletes was completely unimportant. “

Stepanov, the current advisor to the International Olympic Committee, is still realistic. He sees “better opportunities for pure athletes” to succeed in international competitions. But it is a never-ending battle. ”