Nadezhda Ostapchuk still Olympic champion for Belarus
13.08.2012 19:39
MINSK, 13 August (BelTA) – Belarus still recognizes Nadezhda Ostapchuk as an Olympic champion, Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister of Belarus Cheslav Shulga told media on 13 August.
The official said: “Some mistake or misunderstanding may have happened. We still recognize Nadezhda Ostapchuk as our Olympic champion”. He confirmed that the sportswoman went through a drug test on 30 July and came out clean. “Let’s wait for the official decision of the International Olympic Committee. The Belarusian side will not take an action for now,” said the Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister.
He remarked he refused to link the event to the scandal involving the disqualification of another Belarusian athlete Ivan Tikhon. “The decision on Tikhon was unethical and wrong. I refuse to believe that the Olympic movement has political connections. But facts state otherwise,” said Cheslav Shulga.
