Belarus has consulted Swiss lawyers over the case of its canoe and kayak national team, Anatol Kotau, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, told journalists.
In 2016, Belarus’ senior men’s canoe and kayak national team was preparing for the Rio Olympics in France when they had a surprise visit and a search by police. The International Canoe Federation accused Belarus team of the use of banned substances. Thus the team was unable to participate in the 2016 Summer Games.
“We asked Swiss lawyers about the amount of the compensation we can expect. At least, [we can count on recompensating] the costs of preparing athletes for the Olympics within a four-year period. About $ 2 million were spent only on training drills and camps; but the most important thing is compensating for moral harm to athletes, coaches, doctors,” Kotau told state-run television Belarus 1.
A week ago, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lifted a one-year ban from the Belarusian men’s canoe and kayak national team imposed by the ICF due to accusations of violating anti-doping rules, BelTA reports. The French Anti-Doping Agency closed the inquiry into the case of four Belarusian athletes.
