Backed down on the meldonium issue?
- From all at once. From the doctor. I called him back first, so from him.
- Did you see it somewhere in the news at first?
- No, I woke up, saw the missed calls, called back, and they told me that, most likely, I am getting amnesty.
- What did you feel when you found out? Did you believe it right away?
- I did, of course. The first news a couple of days ago appeared that WADA revised some points and will explain.
We waited, in principle, but what the solution would be, I found out only on April 13 from the doctor.
- Has the federation contacted you yet? No information on when your disqualification will be permanently lifted?
- I think that it will still be decently stretched, because it is necessary to somehow fix the decision legally on paper, right? It will take some time for everyone to put the necessary signatures, to collect the documents ...
- Have you already been congratulated at Dynamo, or are they not running ahead of the locomotive yet?
- So far, I have not seen anyone there. We had last game, after which we were released until April 15, when the team will have a corporate evening. We will probably communicate there.
- Since the moment you were suspended, have you stopped training?
- I trained on an individual program. Gym, healed old injuries ... But I didn’t finish, of course - the season went on.
- What did you do after you got the results of a positive doping test?
- Yes, I didn’t do anything. I rested more, probably spent time with my family.
- You were threatened with a solid disqualification. What or who helped prevent depression? There were no thoughts at all to give up everything?
- No, it was not. (laughs) How to finish at 25 is unlikely. Well, if they were disqualified, I would not play until forty years old, but up to 45. Where to go?
- Did you still have faith, what else can be justified?
- In general, there was faith. An unexplored drug, an unexplored elimination period. Therefore, the belief was that after the research - and people said that they took it in March, in May last year, and then the drug remained in the body this year - somehow everything should be positively resolved. It is impossible to categorically prohibit without research at once.
I think WADA has made a big step forward in terms of athletes.
- Many said that the meldonium scandal is a conspiracy against Russia. After WADA's actions, can we say that this opinion was erroneous?
- It's not for me to talk about it. Let our bosses at the top talk about it, and our business is sports. We, in fact, do not need anything - no apologies there, medals ... Let it be easy to play.
- Aren't you afraid that the stigma of a doping athlete will remain on you?
- Let them come up to me and say to my face, and so, behind our backs, we have a lot of lovers to talk. I somehow don’t care what they say, I’ll just do my job, and I don’t really care about their opinion.
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Among a number of domestic athletes caught in the use of banned meldonium was the volleyball player of the Russian national team, Moscow Dynamo Alexander Markin. He revealed to Lente.ru the details of the incident, and also speculated about the importance of pharmacology in modern sports.
"Lenta.ru": How did you find out that your doping test tested positive for meldonium?
Alexander Markin: On February 10th, I received an email. Then they called from the club, asked to come to the hall. There they said that meldonium was found in me. I didn't believe it at first. The first two weeks I was in shock, various thoughts entered my head, then it let go a little.
Why did it become public only a month later?
After consulting with lawyers and representatives of the Ministry of Sports, we decided not to make the situation public. But after a number of athletes were caught on meldonia, I was reported in the general stream. There was no longer any sense to hide something.
You finished taking meldonium long before the doping test, but the sample showed a high concentration of the drug. Why?
No one has ever investigated how long meldonium is excreted from the human body. The results are different for everyone. It turns out that it comes out slower for me. This is the reason for our miscalculation.
Did you have any indications for the use of the drug?
It was a very difficult training and playing period. Naturally, fatigue accumulated, it was necessary to recover. The doctors decided to prescribe a short course at the peak so as not to break down at all.
Did any of your teammates take the drug with you?
No, just me. When the guys found out, they were shocked, because this should not have happened.
Photo: imago sportfotodienst / Globallookpress.com
Can a modern athlete do without vitamins and meldonium-like products?
I give you a 100% guarantee that in modern sports you cannot do without additional dietary supplements - magnesium, omega, fish oil. The body of athletes is working hard, it needs to be fed with something. If you just eat a piece of meat, it will not bring the desired result, because the body has spent much more than this piece is able to give you.
Information is being spread that meldonium was banned at the initiative of the United States, since the drug is distributed only in Eastern Europe. Are you ready to believe this scenario?
Quite. But it is not I who should understand this, but the higher authorities, including the Russian ones. I hope they do it. I heard that now they are going to expand the list of prohibited drugs, they want to ban caffeine - this is the road to nowhere.
Also caught in Meldonia, short-tracker Semyon Elistratov admitted that he agreed to everything, including a polygraph test, to prove his innocence. Are you ready to go all the way to maintain your reputation?
I can pass any test. But I think that in the All-Russian Volleyball Federation, as well as in International Federation, adequate people work. Common sense should be, I hope they understand everything. Doping is unacceptable for us, it does nothing to help volleyball players. We have never had such incidents. There were some minor violations, but no one ever used serious anabolics. What was the point for me to take the drug after it was banned, and thereby “expose” myself, the guys who train and play with me, the coaches, the club, the national team and our whole country?
What punishment are you preparing for?
On April 19 we were scheduled for a hearing in Lausanne. Personally, I am counting on the mildest decision. It is wrong and senseless in this situation to take tough measures, to disqualify a person. Four years is a huge period of life. I don’t want to end my career like this, at 25 years old.
Volleyball player of the Russian national team Alexander Markin, who was previously suspended due to the use of meldonium, and now falls under the amnesty, in an interview with Sovsport.ru shared his emotions from the good news and said that he did not give up all this time.
On Wednesday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that less than one microgram of the banned substance meldonium in an athlete's doping sample submitted before March 1, 2016 is acceptable. Markin's sample taken on January 9 contained 300 nanograms of this substance, which is less than the limiting concentration.
– Alexander, our congratulations! Judging by the WADA statement, you fall under the amnesty.
- Great news! Both for me and for our other athletes. Life is getting better. I think that now at least half of the Russian athletes who were suspended due to meldonium will be amnesty due to permissible indicators.
– Have you already talked with someone from the federation, the Russian national team about this?
- I talked with the manager of the national team and the general secretary of the federation. I was told that I was included in the list of the national team. We are waiting for further decisions.
– That is, it is not yet clear when the amnesty will come into effect and you will be able to join the national team?
- Yes. Everything must be approved legally, and only then can we safely talk about an amnesty. But, of course, this is already a great reason for joy. I really hope that justice has been done. The measures were too harsh because of this drug. Many athletes, clubs, federations suffered, and other athletes after this scandal simply began to be afraid.
– Have you spoken to Vladimir Alekno yet?
- Not yet, I haven't had time yet.
– How has time passed since you found out about a positive doping test for meldonium?
- The first three weeks were very difficult. Then he relaxed. And what can you do - they will punish and punish. Life doesn't end there. For the last month my psychological state has been fine. No depressing thoughts.
– What did you do?
- Trained according to an individual program. He restored his health, healed old sores. I certainly did not sit still and did not feel sad.
– Who has supported you all this time?
- Everyone supported! The guys from Dynamo, the club's management, friends, relatives, the federation, a lot of strangers wrote to me. Such universal support helped not to give up, this is really very important for any person. Thanks everyone!
– There were thoughts that you missed such a chance to play at the Olympics?
- Of course, such thoughts came into my head, I was very concerned about this. How did you put so many years to achieve such a goal and everything was lost? A month later, I was already released. Well, nothing, if I'm not going to Rio, then to the next Olympics! At 26, nothing ends. For another ten years, I should definitely play.
– Is the Rio Olympics now a reality for you?
- Yes. I hope so. I will fight for the place of the national team!
– There is very little left until the next training camp of the national team ...
- Yes, I have another month. I will train hard to come to the national team and not die on the second day of class.
– Good luck, Alexander! We are waiting in the national team!
- Thanks a lot!
Alexander Yaremenko: Will Markin get to the Olympics? Everything is possible
General Secretary of the All-Russian Volleyball Federation Alexander Yaremenko, in an interview with Sovsport.ru correspondent, assessed the chances of Alexander Markin to take part in the Olympics in Rio.
– Do you already know when Markin's amnesty will take effect?
- So far, neither the timing nor the mechanism of this amnesty is clear. It may be necessary to wait for the hearings in the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), which were previously scheduled for April 19 and at which, taking into account the new recommendations of WADA, a certain decision will be made. Making a decision on Markin is the prerogative of the FIVB.
– What are the chances that Markin will be called up to the national team for the first training camp in May?
- There are prerequisites for this. We will find out what legal steps will need to be taken for this.
– Can we say that Markin's chances of getting to the Olympics have now grown significantly?
- We did not delete Markin from the list of the Russian national team, so anything is possible.
The winger of the Moscow “Dynamo” and the Russian national team also got caught on the mildronate.
During the two days of our doping shame and shame rumbled even where doping is exotic. In volleyball, it is difficult to find a drug that will bring players a serious increase in results and will give an unambiguously positive and quick effect. Doping scandals in this form are rare and almost always look like nonsense. Alas, the anti-hero was the outgoing player of the Moscow “Dynamo” and the Russian national team, Alexander Markin.
Judging by the information available, Mildronate was used in his club, clearly hoping for those properties of the drug that allow players to recover faster after heavy exertion. Dynamo in November-January turned out to be the leaders of our league in terms of the number of tie-breaks held during the season, churning out one long match after another. At the same time, the club took part in three tournaments, and the key players of the club were involved in the Russian national team.
It was the pair of side-gamers Markin - Yuri Berezhko, together with the binder Sergei Grankin, who became the main creators Russian victory in the final of the men's Olympic qualification. Markin then played his best and brightest match of his career.
January 10. Berlin. Russia - France - 3: 1. Alexander MARKIN helped the national team to qualify in Rio. Photo AFP
When this guy can now play for the national team is a big question. His case on March 19 will be considered by the FIVB medical commission in Lausanne, and the player will most likely receive a disqualification. Markin refused to autopsy sample "B", essentially admitting his guilt. An official investigation conducted by the VFV indicates the use of the drug in the club.
The doctors carried out the procedures in the second half of December, keeping in mind the date of the ban on the use of Mildronate, but within the required period the drug did not leave Markin's body. Apparently, now the Russian is facing excommunication from volleyball for six months. Apparently, Markin lost the opportunity to speak at the Games in Rio de Janeiro. The 25-year-old hasn't played for the club for over a month - he last entered the court in a Super League match on February 6.
This is a surprise for us. The course of the procedure was carried out in the club, we knew about this - the doctors of the Russian clubs are obliged to provide the relevant information to the medical service of the federation when it comes to the players of the national teams. It is surprising that traces of the drug remained in the player's body for more than two weeks. This was exactly what was unexpected. Markin refused to autopsy the second test, now the FIVB will make a decision on punishing the player, - the general secretary of the VFV Alexander Yaremenko outlined the picture of what happened.
