President of the Portuguese Athletics Federation against the Russians and Belarusians at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

The President of the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA) said this Monday that he is against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris due to the conflict with Ukraine and doping abuse.

“Not only because of the conflict, but also because of the previous problems related to doping, in which I and we (the Federation) understand that the fight against doping must be merciless,” Jorge Vieira told Lusa this Monday, also noting that “the invasion of Ukraine is unforgivable” and that “there are no Olympic arguments that can overcome this.”

The leader spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of the national 10 km and mile road racing championship, which will be held in this city in Ribatejo on January 13 and 14, 2024.

At the time, he said he was “not considering” but did not reject a possible candidacy for the post of President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP), and indicated that he agreed with the position of World Athletics, which announced that there would be no athletics in Paris 2024 neither Russian nor Belarusian participants, in contrast to the International Olympic Committee, which recommended that federations allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Paris 2024 Games, provided that they compete under a neutral flag.

“My reading is naturally subject to my International Federation. Not only out of institutional responsibilities, as an associated federation we follow the political leadership of World Athletics, but if you ask me personally, I agree. I agree completely, not only because of the issue of conflict, but already because of previous problems related to doping (…), with proven evidence that in Russia and Belarus there was an organized system of manipulating results” through doping, he said .

Jorge Vieira recalled that World Athletics “investigated this whole situation and banned these countries until they found an organization at the national level that would consistently address this doping problem” and this situation continues.

“What followed next, from the conflict, from the invasion of Ukraine, is also obviously unforgivable for us. And I often say to myself, and this is the first time I say this publicly: there are no Olympic arguments that could overcome this. “I have a lot of doubts that even Russian athletes will be allowed, even in a neutral jersey, they will always be Russians, they will always be listed as Russians. And I think that it is unforgivable, humanly speaking, that this could happen in our days,” he emphasized.

Asked how to solve the problem, Jorge Vieira said it would “only end when Russia leaves Ukraine” and “when it introduces a doping control program,” rejecting the Olympic Truce bid.

“The Olympic Truce is a term that is usually used (…) for everyone to participate together, but it is an interpretation of the ancient Greek Olympic Truce, which had nothing to do with territorial invasions, as is the case in Europe today. in the century has nothing to do with the reading of the Olympic truces that existed in Ancient Greece at the Ancient Olympic Games. Presenting this argument today is clearly disingenuous and misguided,” he said.

Tomar is the city that will host the National Road Championships on 13th and 14th January 2024, with 31st 10K races, 1st mile race (1609.34m) and an open test and walk.

The organization, which plans to attract 1,700 athletes, was created by the Portuguese Athletics Federation in collaboration with the Santarém Athletic Association and the Municipality of Tomar, and in a technical and logistical partnership with Cabreira Solutions.