North-Ossetian sporting experts deny use of doping by Baroev

A recheck of doping assays of Khasan Baroev, a Greco-Roman style wrestler, and now – the Minister of Sports of North Ossetia, and depriving him of his Olympic medal are an attempt to discredit Russian athletes, the local sporting professionals, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", believe.

On November 17, it became known that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped Baroev of his silver medal of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. It was decided after rechecking his then doping assays.

There is no evidence that the assay in question belongs to Baroev, said his coach Vladimir Urujmagov.

Uruzmag Baskaev, earlier a sporting observer at the State TV and Radio Company "Alania", and now a reporter for the Ossetian-language newspaper "Ræstdzinad", has noted that he personally knew all wrestlers and their coaches.

"The doping situation has long gone beyond sports and has a clear political subtext," he told the "Caucasian Knot", expressing doubts that the deprivation of Baroev of his Olympic medal could influence upcoming performances of North-Ossetian athletes.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.