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Where Racewalking Is King, the Antidoping Officials Are Busy Where Racewalking Is King, the Antidoping Officials Are Busy
(4 days later)
SARANSK, Russia — The palatial glass-and-steel Olympic Training Center of the Republic of Mordovia rises from the flattened landscape of this small industrial city in Russia’s rust belt. Saransk does not have much of a profile, even in Russia. Gérard Depardieu bought a house here to escape French taxes. It was once a popular spot for gulags. But it is basically the Russian equivalent of flyover country — unless you happen to be a fan of racewalking. SARANSK, Russia — The palatial glass-and-steel Olympic Training Center of the Republic of Mordovia rises from the flattened landscape of this small industrial city in Russia’s rust belt. Saransk does not have much of a profile, even in Russia. Gérard Depardieu bought a house here to escape French taxes. It was once a popular spot for gulags. But it is basically the Russian equivalent of flyover country — unless you happen to be a fan of racewalking.
Racewalking is the peculiar track and field event that elicits snickers every four years when its athletes are seen wiggling toward the finish line in the Summer Olympics. Throughout most of the world, it resides somewhere between niche and punch line.Racewalking is the peculiar track and field event that elicits snickers every four years when its athletes are seen wiggling toward the finish line in the Summer Olympics. Throughout most of the world, it resides somewhere between niche and punch line.
But not in Saransk. Here, racewalking is as big as soccer. The walkers are local celebrities. Their wan faces emblazon billboards and trading cards, and they will seemingly go to any lengths, legal or not, to be competitive. The Olympic Training Center, where athletes train on a 3.2-kilometer wooded path, is one of the largest, most important facilities in the world devoted to the sport. The high-tech, live-in center, which lies on Saransk’s outskirts, between a highway and a dense forest, has churned out champions for the past decade with the machine-like regularity of a Soviet production line and led Russia to dominate the sport on the world stage.But not in Saransk. Here, racewalking is as big as soccer. The walkers are local celebrities. Their wan faces emblazon billboards and trading cards, and they will seemingly go to any lengths, legal or not, to be competitive. The Olympic Training Center, where athletes train on a 3.2-kilometer wooded path, is one of the largest, most important facilities in the world devoted to the sport. The high-tech, live-in center, which lies on Saransk’s outskirts, between a highway and a dense forest, has churned out champions for the past decade with the machine-like regularity of a Soviet production line and led Russia to dominate the sport on the world stage.
“Our guys aren’t treated as if they’re rock stars like they are over there,” said Brent Vallance, a former racewalker and coach for Australia’s national team who spent time in Saransk during two stints as a guest trainer. “The fact that they have young people wanting to do this sport en masse is something that’s always going to get them ahead.”“Our guys aren’t treated as if they’re rock stars like they are over there,” said Brent Vallance, a former racewalker and coach for Australia’s national team who spent time in Saransk during two stints as a guest trainer. “The fact that they have young people wanting to do this sport en masse is something that’s always going to get them ahead.”
At the helm of the Russian racewalking program is Viktor Chegin, the sandy-haired, dark-eyed trainer whose name adorns the facade of the center in Saransk. Responsible for coaching all three Russian athletes who swept the 2009 world championships, as well as multiple Olympic medal winners and world-record holders in the years since, Chegin was exalted to hero stature here, formally named a “Chevalier of the Order of Glory of Mordovia” and proclaimed by the local government “the father of all the victories of our racewalkers.” At the helm of the Russian racewalking program is Viktor Chegin, the sandy-haired, dark-eyed trainer whose name adorns the facade of the center in Saransk. Responsible for coaching the three Russian athletes who swept the 2009 world championships, as well as multiple Olympic medal winners and world-record holders in the years since, Chegin was exalted to hero stature here, formally named a Chevalier of the Order of Glory of Mordovia and proclaimed by the local government “the father of all the victories of our racewalkers.”
In 2010, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia gave a speech in which he referenced the success of Mordovia’s sports facilities, and plans were announced to erect a statue of Chegin in Saransk that would serve as a “living memorial.” In 2010, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia gave a speech in which he referred to the success of Mordovia’s sports facilities, and plans were announced to erect a statue of Chegin in Saransk that would serve as a “living memorial.”
But now Chegin and the racewalking center in Saransk are in the middle of one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of track and field. As far back as 2008, Chegin faced accusations of systematic doping when five of his athletes tested positive for banned substances on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. To date, 26 Russian racewalkers have been barred from the sport for doping violations, at least 20 of them trained by Chegin. But now Chegin and the racewalking center in Saransk are in the middle of one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of track and field. As far back as 2008, Chegin faced accusations of systemic doping when five of his athletes tested positive for banned substances on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. To date, 26 Russian racewalkers have been barred from the sport for doping violations, at least 20 of them trained by Chegin.
Several of Chegin’s athletes are serving lifetime bans for use of EPO, a blood-doping agent that improves oxygen delivery to the muscles but also increases the likelihood of thrombosis and stroke. Many have had medals rescinded. One of his walkers, German Skurygin, died of a heart attack at age 45 a few years after being stripped of his world championship gold for doping.Several of Chegin’s athletes are serving lifetime bans for use of EPO, a blood-doping agent that improves oxygen delivery to the muscles but also increases the likelihood of thrombosis and stroke. Many have had medals rescinded. One of his walkers, German Skurygin, died of a heart attack at age 45 a few years after being stripped of his world championship gold for doping.
Yet for years, even as his walkers were caught again and again, Chegin largely emerged unscathed, and the center in Mordovia continued to receive hundreds of millions of rubles in federal and state funding. Last year, the Russian government allocated an additional 375 million rubles to the center, which contains a full-time coaching, living and training environment, part of the city’s preparation to host soccer’s 2018 World Cup. Yet for years, even as his walkers were caught again and again, Chegin emerged largely unscathed, and the center in Mordovia continued to receive hundreds of millions of rubles in federal and state funding. Last year, the Russian government allocated an additional 375 million rubles (about $7 million currently) to the center, which contains a full-time coaching, living and training environment, part of the city’s preparation to host a site in soccer’s 2018 World Cup.
Even after July 2014, when Chegin was officially fired from Russia’s national team after five new doping violations finally led to an investigation by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, or Rusada, he has continued to train athletes in Saransk and attend bombastic ceremonies in his own honor, and he was there on the sideline at the European championships last August in Zurich. Even after July 2014, when Chegin was officially fired from Russia’s national team after five new doping violations finally led to an investigation by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, or Rusada, he has continued to train athletes in Saransk and attend bombastic ceremonies in his honor, and he was there on the sideline at the European championships last August in Zurich.
It was not until the beginning of this year that track and field’s world governing body, the I.A.A.F., together with Russia’s antidoping agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency, began a series of investigations against Chegin, prompted largely by a sort of online vigilante campaign run by a group of racewalkers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.It was not until the beginning of this year that track and field’s world governing body, the I.A.A.F., together with Russia’s antidoping agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency, began a series of investigations against Chegin, prompted largely by a sort of online vigilante campaign run by a group of racewalkers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
No matter, Chegin continues to draw broad support at home. A poll in January by the leading Russian web portal Mail.ru showed that 72 percent of respondents thought the doping scandal was, entirely or in part, a Western conspiracy against Russia. No matter — Chegin continues to draw broad support at home. A poll in January by the leading Russian web portal Mail.ru showed that 72 percent of respondents thought the doping scandal was, entirely or in part, a Western conspiracy against Russia.
Chegin declined to be interviewed for this article. Dozens of attempts to contact current and former Russian racewalkers and trainers — by phone, by email, in person and through various social media — were unsuccessful. The Russian Athletics Federation, the national governing body for athletics, which is also under investigation by the I.A.A.F. for allegations that it tried to cover up doping violations, also declined to discuss doping or the racewalking program. Chegin declined to be interviewed for this article. Dozens of attempts to contact current and former Russian racewalkers and trainers — by phone, by email, in person and through various social media — were unsuccessful. The Russian Athletics Federation, the national governing body for athletics, which is also under investigation by the I.A.A.F. over allegations that it tried to cover up doping violations, also declined to discuss doping or the racewalking program.
Even as the Russian racewalking program has repeatedly run afoul of antidoping rules, residents of Saransk, a sleepy city of 300,000 about 400 miles east of Moscow, continue to rally behind Chegin. It is difficult to find anyone here who believes that Chegin or other staff members at the center should face sanctions. Local Hero
Even as the Russian racewalking program has repeatedly run afoul of antidoping rules, residents of Saransk, a sleepy city of 300,000 about 400 miles east of Moscow, continue to rally behind Chegin. It is difficult to find anyone here who thinks that Chegin or other staff members at the center should face sanctions.
Oksana, a homemaker in her 40s, said that the “matter is unclear,” but that “under no circumstances” should Chegin be held responsible. “He is a great trainer, a great teacher,” she said. “He deserves all the respect he gets.”Oksana, a homemaker in her 40s, said that the “matter is unclear,” but that “under no circumstances” should Chegin be held responsible. “He is a great trainer, a great teacher,” she said. “He deserves all the respect he gets.”
Alexander Parshutkin, a 51-year-old former defense ministry contractor, said: “I think it’s all just once again people out to get Russia. It’s America. They want to weaken us. It’s all connected with politics.”Alexander Parshutkin, a 51-year-old former defense ministry contractor, said: “I think it’s all just once again people out to get Russia. It’s America. They want to weaken us. It’s all connected with politics.”
The public perception in Russia that antidoping measures are a form of western subterfuge dates to the Cold War, when Soviet research laboratories operated under heavy secrecy, making allegations difficult to substantiate. When athletes were caught doping at international competitions, it was often depicted by state propaganda as part of a Western conspiracy to smear the Soviet Union. This attitude persisted into the 1990s and 2000s, and Russia lacked a national antidoping agency until 2008, when Rusada was founded. The public perception in Russia that antidoping measures are a form of Western subterfuge dates to the Cold War, when Soviet research laboratories operated under heavy secrecy, making allegations difficult to substantiate. When athletes were caught doping at international competitions, it was often depicted by state propaganda as part of a Western conspiracy to smear the Soviet Union. This attitude persisted into the 1990s and 2000s, and Russia lacked a national antidoping agency until 2008, when Rusada was founded.
“We have received a quite complicated legacy,” said Igor Zagorsky, Rusada’s director general, who oversees the current investigation of Chegin and the Saransk center. “If we go back to the beginning of the millennium, the understanding of this problem in Russian society is that Russian athletes are being followed and discriminated against, and that antidoping is being used just to harm Russian sports.”“We have received a quite complicated legacy,” said Igor Zagorsky, Rusada’s director general, who oversees the current investigation of Chegin and the Saransk center. “If we go back to the beginning of the millennium, the understanding of this problem in Russian society is that Russian athletes are being followed and discriminated against, and that antidoping is being used just to harm Russian sports.”
Outside of Russia, however, the situation looks considerably different. Over the past decade, resentment has grown among other national teams as more and more Russian racewalkers were caught doping but continued to dominate international competitions. The complex set of doping regulations overseen by the I.A.A.F., WADA and Rusada allow athletes to serve limited bans that often do not affect the results of competitions before and after. Many barred athletes have been caught through the I.A.A.F.’s biological passport program, which tracks an athlete’s blood profile over extended periods to look for signs of doping and thus often requires years to establish enough evidence to bar an athlete. Outside Russia, however, the situation looks considerably different. Over the past decade, resentment has grown among other national teams as more and more Russian racewalkers were caught doping but continued to dominate international competitions. The complex set of doping regulations overseen by the I.A.A.F., WADA and Rusada allow athletes to serve limited bans that often do not affect the results of competitions before and after. Many barred athletes have been caught through the I.A.A.F.’s biological passport program, which tracks an athlete’s blood profile over time to look for signs of doping and thus often requires years to establish enough evidence to bar an athlete.
“The last couple years I started getting really angry, knowing I’m racing against doped-up athletes,” said Jared Tallent, an Australian racewalking champion who has repeatedly finished second or third at world championships behind Russian walkers who were coached by Chegin and later barred for doping. “They just lie and deny it. They say we’re jealous. But it’s pretty clear how they’re performing so well. “The last couple years, I started getting really angry, knowing I’m racing against doped-up athletes,” said Jared Tallent, an Australian racewalking champion who has repeatedly finished second or third at world championships behind Russian walkers who were coached by Chegin and later barred for doping. “They just lie and deny it. They say we’re jealous. But it’s pretty clear how they’re performing so well.
“He’s cheating, and it’s bad for the sport.”“He’s cheating, and it’s bad for the sport.”
Cars and Apartments
The Russian athletics program rewards its victorious racewalkers in ways that make other countries’ prizes seem meager. In addition to the official reward money, Olga Kaniskina and Tatyana Shemyakina were given cars and apartments for their first- and second-place world championship finishes in 2007. Chegin told the magazine SovSport in 2009 that his athletes’ incentive to win “is obvious: to become champions, earn good money, get an apartment and a car for a victory over the world.”The Russian athletics program rewards its victorious racewalkers in ways that make other countries’ prizes seem meager. In addition to the official reward money, Olga Kaniskina and Tatyana Shemyakina were given cars and apartments for their first- and second-place world championship finishes in 2007. Chegin told the magazine SovSport in 2009 that his athletes’ incentive to win “is obvious: to become champions, earn good money, get an apartment and a car for a victory over the world.”
Kaniskina was one of five walkers coached by Chegin who were barred in January for doping violations. She is still featured on the top of the home page of the Sports Ministry of Mordovia, along with three other Chegin-trained racewalkers caught doping — Sergey Kirdyapkin, Valeriy Borchin and Elena Lashmanova — under motivational phrases like “You can do more!” and “It’s important that your will to win is much stronger!”Kaniskina was one of five walkers coached by Chegin who were barred in January for doping violations. She is still featured on the top of the home page of the Sports Ministry of Mordovia, along with three other Chegin-trained racewalkers caught doping — Sergey Kirdyapkin, Valeriy Borchin and Elena Lashmanova — under motivational phrases like “You can do more!” and “It’s important that your will to win is much stronger!”
“When these guys lose their results, they still get treated like champions,” said Evan Dunfee, a Canadian racewalker who has been a vocal critic of Chegin. “When these guys lose their results, they still get treated like champions,” said Evan Dunfee, a Canadian racewalker who has been a critic of Chegin.
The absence of stigma attached to doping in Russia makes internal reform seem unlikely. Even after several high-profile dismissals — the Saransk center’s longtime director, Viktor Kolesnikov, was fired last year after he was caught in possession of banned substances, and his brief replacement, Kaniskina, resigned after her ban was announced in January — Chegin remains in charge.The absence of stigma attached to doping in Russia makes internal reform seem unlikely. Even after several high-profile dismissals — the Saransk center’s longtime director, Viktor Kolesnikov, was fired last year after he was caught in possession of banned substances, and his brief replacement, Kaniskina, resigned after her ban was announced in January — Chegin remains in charge.
“I probably would have been stood down immediately if I had one athlete test positive,” Vallance, the Australian trainer, said. “Yet we go to these competitions and he’s in the tent next to us, and we’re just standing there going, ‘How is that possible?’” “I probably would have been stood down immediately if I had one athlete test positive,” said Vallance, the Australian trainer. “Yet we go to these competitions and he’s in the tent next to us, and we’re just standing there going, ‘How is that possible?’”
Last May, at the World Race Walking Cup in Taicang, China, the situation could no longer be avoided when Sergei Morozov, a Chegin-trained racewalker serving a 2012 lifetime ban for doping violations, arrived on the track as part of the Russian team’s medical staff. Tallent confronted Morozov and accused the Russians of repeatedly breaking their bans.Last May, at the World Race Walking Cup in Taicang, China, the situation could no longer be avoided when Sergei Morozov, a Chegin-trained racewalker serving a 2012 lifetime ban for doping violations, arrived on the track as part of the Russian team’s medical staff. Tallent confronted Morozov and accused the Russians of repeatedly breaking their bans.
“There was a bit of an altercation,” says Dunfee, who witnessed the confrontation. “Nothing serious, of course. I mean, we’re all 140-pound racewalkers.” “There was a bit of an altercation,” said Dunfee, who witnessed the confrontation. “Nothing serious, of course. I mean, we’re all 140-pound racewalkers.”
After Taicang, Dunfee, together with Vallance, Tallent and several other disgruntled racewalkers, started an online campaign to expose what they believe to be Russian cheating, using the Twitter hashtag #banchegin. On his personal blog, Dunfee employed material sourced from social media and the Saransk center’s website to show that Lashmanova had broken the terms of a two-year doping ban by participating in an official race at the Saransk training center on Dec. 30, 2014. In June, Lashmanova, a lanky 23-year-old who won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, tested positive for the experimental drug GW1516, which was removed from pharmaceutical development when it was shown to cause rapid-onset tumors in rats.After Taicang, Dunfee, together with Vallance, Tallent and several other disgruntled racewalkers, started an online campaign to expose what they believe to be Russian cheating, using the Twitter hashtag #banchegin. On his personal blog, Dunfee employed material sourced from social media and the Saransk center’s website to show that Lashmanova had broken the terms of a two-year doping ban by participating in an official race at the Saransk training center on Dec. 30, 2014. In June, Lashmanova, a lanky 23-year-old who won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, tested positive for the experimental drug GW1516, which was removed from pharmaceutical development when it was shown to cause rapid-onset tumors in rats.
Russian officials connected with the Saransk center denied Lashmanova’s participation in the 2014 event, claiming the photos had been mislabeled and actually showed an event from 2012. Soon after, the training center released new photos supposedly from the 2014 event showing different athletes on the award podiums. But Dunfee’s website exactingly made the case that the second set of photos was an attempted cover-up, showing, for instance, that shoes worn in the original photos were not yet on the market in 2012, and suggesting the later photos had been staged.Russian officials connected with the Saransk center denied Lashmanova’s participation in the 2014 event, claiming the photos had been mislabeled and actually showed an event from 2012. Soon after, the training center released new photos supposedly from the 2014 event showing different athletes on the award podiums. But Dunfee’s website exactingly made the case that the second set of photos was an attempted cover-up, showing, for instance, that shoes worn in the original photos were not yet on the market in 2012, and suggesting the later photos had been staged.
The outcry over the December event, together with six new doping violations this year alone, might have finally tipped the scales against Chegin. The I.A.A.F., WADA and Rusada are conducting multiple investigations against him and the Olympic Training Center in Saransk, all of which are set to conclude by the end of the year. Both the I.A.A.F. and WADA were already engaged in a major investigation into Russian athletics after a documentary by the German broadcaster ARD alleged that systemic doping and cover-ups were widespread in the country. Multiple Investigations
The documentary also takes aim at Rusada and the I.A.A.F., claiming both organizations helped to cover up doping violations and intentionally stalled the investigation process. Rusada and the I.A.A.F. say they are conducting internal investigations based on the documentary’s findings. Valentin Balakhnichev, the I.A.A.F. treasurer and Russian Athletics Federation president, was one of three I.A.A.F. officials forced to resign after the documentary was broadcast in December of last year. Balakhnichev called the allegations a “pack of lies” and vowed to return to his post at “the end of the investigation.” The outcry over the December event, together with six new doping violations this year alone, might have finally tipped the scales against Chegin. The I.A.A.F., WADA and Rusada are conducting multiple investigations against him and the Olympic Training Center in Saransk, all of them set to conclude by the end of the year. Both the I.A.A.F. and WADA were already engaged in a major investigation into Russian athletics after a documentary by the German broadcaster ARD alleged that systemic doping and cover-ups were widespread in the country.
The documentary also takes aim at Rusada and the I.A.A.F., claiming that both organizations helped to cover up doping violations and intentionally stalled the investigation process. Rusada and the I.A.A.F. say they are conducting internal investigations based on the documentary’s findings. Valentin Balakhnichev, the I.A.A.F. treasurer and Russian Athletics Federation president, was one of three I.A.A.F. officials forced to resign after the documentary was broadcast last December. Balakhnichev called the allegations a “pack of lies” and vowed to return to his post at “the end of the investigation.”
Igor Zagorsky, the Rusada director, vigorously denies the claims made in the documentary. In the case of Chegin, Zagorsky attributes the delays to legislative shortcomings and procedural challenges. Until recently, there was no regulation that called for even the investigation of a coach whose athletes were caught doping, and support personnel, unlike athletes, cannot be physically tested, meaning investigators must verify Chegin’s involvement through material and testimonial evidence.Igor Zagorsky, the Rusada director, vigorously denies the claims made in the documentary. In the case of Chegin, Zagorsky attributes the delays to legislative shortcomings and procedural challenges. Until recently, there was no regulation that called for even the investigation of a coach whose athletes were caught doping, and support personnel, unlike athletes, cannot be physically tested, meaning investigators must verify Chegin’s involvement through material and testimonial evidence.
“It’s a very hard thing to establish,” Zagorsky said. “We have a lot of evidence that leads us to believe that Chegin, yes, he is committing antidoping rule violations. But now we have to prove it.”“It’s a very hard thing to establish,” Zagorsky said. “We have a lot of evidence that leads us to believe that Chegin, yes, he is committing antidoping rule violations. But now we have to prove it.”
“The biological passport program is not a straightforward process,” Chris Turner, the I.A.A.F. press secretary, said in response to criticism that the I.A.A.F. has taken too long to bar athletes for blood irregularities. In response to criticism contending that the I.A.A.F. has taken too long to bar athletes for blood irregularities, Chris Turner, the I.A.A.F. press secretary, said, “The biological passport program is not a straightforward process.”
“It takes years — at least two — to build up a profile,” Turner said. “One cannot act on one or a couple of values.” Turner added: “It takes years — at least two — to build up a profile. One cannot act on one or a couple of values.”
He also noted that “there were delays with the disciplinary procedure at the Russian Athletic Federation’s level” in the cases of Lashmanova, Kaniskina and the four other Chegin athletes who received bans this year. He also noted that “there were delays with the disciplinary procedure at the Russian Athletics Federation’s level” in the cases of Lashmanova, Kaniskina and the four other Chegin athletes who were banned this year.
Turner would not comment on the continuing investigation against Chegin other than to say that Rusada and the Russian Athletic Federation were fully cooperating. But in February, Thomas Capdevielle, the I.A.A.F.’s antidoping senior manager, told reporters he was “confident” that Chegin would be kicked out of the sport. Turner would not comment on the continuing investigation against Chegin other than to say that Rusada and the Russian Athletics Federation were fully cooperating. But in February, Thomas Capdevielle, the I.A.A.F.’s antidoping senior manager, told reporters he was confident that Chegin would be kicked out of the sport.
And despite the example of Saransk, where the region’s economy and prestige are closely tied to the credibility of Chegin and the racewalking program, Zagorsky says public opinion in Russia at large has been shifting over the past decade. An increasing number of Russians, he says, see systemic doping as a problem that must be addressed.And despite the example of Saransk, where the region’s economy and prestige are closely tied to the credibility of Chegin and the racewalking program, Zagorsky says public opinion in Russia at large has been shifting over the past decade. An increasing number of Russians, he says, see systemic doping as a problem that must be addressed.
Tallent, Vallance and Dunfee are hopeful, but cautiously so. Too many times, they say, they have expected Chegin and the Russian team to suffer real consequences, only to face them once more on the track. Tallent said he would not be at all surprised if Chegin was at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next summer. “I don’t have much faith,” he said. “I just have this feeling that nothing will happen until after Rio and then he’ll just retire.” Tallent, Vallance and Dunfee are hopeful, but cautiously so. Too many times, they said, they have expected Chegin and the Russian team to suffer real consequences, only to face them once more on the track. Tallent said he would not be at all surprised if Chegin was at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next summer. “I don’t have much faith,” he said. “I just have this feeling that nothing will happen until after Rio and then he’ll just retire.”
“I personally don’t hold anything against the individual athletes,” Vallance said, “because I believe they don’t know they’re doing it. I honestly believe they’re just following blindly what they’re told to do. It’s almost worship status that Viktor Chegin gets there, so when you’re told to do something, you just do it.“ Vallance said: “I personally don’t hold anything against the individual athletes, because I believe they don’t know they’re doing it. I honestly believe they’re just following blindly what they’re told to do. It’s almost worship status that Viktor Chegin gets there, so when you’re told to do something, you just do it.“